Autism has its night! Thank you Temple Grandin and the lights of Hollywood/HBO for giving autism a face, a name, a night to shine. “Temple Grandin” won eight Emmy Awards - Oh what a night it was!
Temple Grandin stood and waved from the audience as actors from the movie of her life won awards, then took the stage herself as the biopic Temple Grandin won the Emmy for best TV movie at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on Sunday night.
Doug and Katie gave Cookies to God
Cookies for God
is a special short story that I wrote for and about a personal experience with my children, Doug and Katie, when they were young. It is an inspirational account of what we can give to God and how. All parents will want to share this experience with their own child. What a great idea for a Sunday School class as well. Read it and enjoy at Divine Caroline.
I received notice today that my story, “Bouquet of Weeds,” has been selected to appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Mothers. This book will be in bookstores October 5th.
We’re off and On the Road with Humpty Dumpty.
Humpty Dumpty at Monument Valley
You’ll see where we travel, events, friends, all of the things I love to do. You’ll also learn what made me (Humpty) get off my duff, pick myself off the ground, and learn to dance again. Kathie Harrington is my voice. She’ll be the one writing about our adventures, so please join us on our other blog as we
see the world.
I joined Romance Writers of America today AND I joined our local Las Vegas Romance Writers Group, Cactus Rose, yesterday. I’m excited about writing more in the romance genre. Let me share some of the popularity of Romance Fiction (RF):
1. RF generated $1.37 billion in sales in 2008
2. 7311 new romance titles were released in 2008
3. In 2008, romance was the top category on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers
Weekly best-seller lists.
4. RF was predicted to be equally as robust for 2009.
Well, there you go. I have had one short piece of RF published by The White Rose Press of which I’m very proud. Shilo combined my interest and knowledge of autism with my love of writing. This is the story of two young adults with autism who fall in love. It is a Christian Romance. You’d love it and it is available for only $2.00 on line. at The White Rose Press.
Biz$shop is all about Steve Veltkamp. I attended an ever-so-wonderful class presented by Steve, the founder of Biz$shop yesterday at UNLV. He presented on Selling on the Internet. I learned so many wonderful things like Webdesign, E-Commerce, small business techniques, promotional ideas, Nitch marketing, No-No’s for the website, how to drive traffic to the site, etc. etc.
Steve is the KING of internet Commerce and I feel fortunate to learn from the KING. His site is great at Biz$shop and his e mail is success@bizshop.com. This professed clown, speaks all over so catch him in the center ring sometime when he’s near you.
Steve, if you read this, please add a link and a comment.
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.
On this date, 51 years ago, July 29, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, creating NASA. This was only a small blurb in today’s paper but it is monumental in the history of our nation and in the exploration of space.
President Eisenhower and the US Congress of that era had a vision that is celebrated today and well into the future.
“Nothing happens . . . but first a dream.” Carl Sandburg.
Have a visionary-kind-of day!
Close but no cigar
A pharmacist would have been a very handy person to have as a mission specialist on any Apollo mission, at least that’s what My Tim thought back in the days of the Apollo space era. Perhaps everyone wanted to be an astronaut after the flurry of the moon landing on July 20, 1969. Imagine 40 years ago. Maybe everyone wanted to be an astronaut in the late ’60′s and early ’70′s but not everyone applied to be an astronaut. My husband, Tim, a pharmacist, DID!
Applying to be an astronaut is not an easy task. Attaining the paperwork, filling it out, getting it notarized, medical checkups and clearance, background checks, finger prints, and sheriff cards, financial statements, references, etc., etc., etc. were all part of the packet. Tim pursued it with zest and dreams sprinkled with stardust and soon became a full fledged astronaut in waiting.
During the years of waiting our family visited: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., NASA, Johnson Space Center Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, and any rocket or space site between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
When Tim Harrington, R.PH. turned 55 years of age, he received a letter from NASA that they regretted informing him that his applicaiton for admission into the astronaut program was not longer applicable. It was not a sad day for Tim or our family, however, it was a proud day. Tim was our Astronaut Pharmacist. He didn’t have to go to the moon to prove his value here on earth. He didn’t have to plant a flag in rock or conduct experiments in floating labs.
Tim served his country in the United States Air Force and he flies a flag on every holiday in the front of our home. He saved the lives of many by filling their prescriptions and consulting with their medical concerns. He distributes food at a food bank at our church pantry and he serves meals to the homeless on holidays. Tim buys school supplies for children who would not outwise have them and anytime he gets the chance he speaks about space and the men and women who pioneered it.
The ones who were lucky to go to the stars and see them up close. The ones who went faster and further than any other people on earth.
I say to my Astronaut Pharmacist, yes, those men and women who were selected to be astronauts did go further and fast and they saw the stars up closer but they are no nearer to the honor of a man than my Tim.
Tony Curtis was highlighted as actor, author, and artist at the Flamingo Library on July 19th in an Actors Studio,Vegas style interview by Norm Clarke. This in-depth Q & A session drew an overflow audience for autograph and photograph sessions. Mr. Curtis penned “American Prince: A Memoir that was released on October 2008.
Mr. Curtis presented from a wheelchair but had all the humor of his youthful days and the depth of his voice rang with familiarity as he related stories from Hollywood as well as from his WWII experiences.
He won an Oscar for his role in The Defiant Ones ~ 1958. (I just ordered it from NetFlix) Enjoy these pictures: his art and the way we all like to remember Tony Curtis. Thank you Mr. Curtis for all of the memories you gave us and continue to do so.
