Monthly Archives: October 2011

Surviving THE CALL, part 2: Herding the Mental Cats

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Susan Spann

Yesterday I talked a little about the lessons I learned that prepared me for THE CALL. Today’s follow-up looks a little more closely at the experience itself. It’s a generally-accepted axiom among writers that when your novel is on submission … Continue reading →

Posted in Running Amok, Scribbling | Comments Off

Surviving THE CALL Part 1: Do Your Homework, Polish and Plan … and Smile.

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Susan Spann

As those who follow my Twitter feed already know, I am now represented by literary agent Sandra Bond (of The Sandra Bond Agency). As those of you in the publishing industry know, this means I received “The Call” – an … Continue reading →

Posted in Running Amok, Scribbling | 4 Comments

A Word to the (Not So) Wise

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Susan Spann

A few things to look out for (read: avoid like the plague) when setting up a spam-comment-bot to make allegedly personalized comments on “unsuspecting” blogs that link back to your sales-or-phishing website: 1.  Inadvertent humor. (“I’d been meaning to research … Continue reading →

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Reads and Reviews: The Witch’s Trinity (by Erika Mailman)

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Susan Spann

I met Erika Mailman at the Historical Novel Society Conference last June (2011). I was browsing the conference bookstore and noticed a paperback novel with the intriguing title The Witch’s Trinity. As it turned out, the author was standing only … Continue reading →

Posted in Reads & Reviews | 4 Comments

Taking Battery to a Whole New Level

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Susan Spann

This is what happens when puns (and baked goods) attack. Earlier this week, a Chicago woman allegedly assaulted her husband … with cupcakes. The husband called 911. When police arrived the wife admitted to “pelting” her icing-smudged husband with baked … Continue reading →

Posted in What's That in the Web? | 2 Comments

Chocolate, Cupcakes and Fire

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Susan Spann

October 18 is official “Chocolate Cupcake Day.” To my dismay, the lemon cupcake appears to have no holiday of its own – a tragic oversight on the part of the Universe. Still, we pick ourselves up and we do the … Continue reading →

Posted in Anything for a Party | 1 Comment

Sometimes, the Weeds, they Win

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Susan Spann

Last night Tesla informed me that he wants to change his 11th grade science course from Physics to Special Topics in Botany. But not foo-foo botany. Life’s not all daisies and dogwoods you know. Tesla wants to study … “aggressive … Continue reading →

Posted in Lessons Learned | 1 Comment

Shiny Dinglehoppers: Sexy Shrimp

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Susan Spann

As promised, this is your slightly delayed Tuesday Wednesday Tank-Day Post. It’s also a shiny dinglehopper post, because I’m guessing many of you have never heard of a sexy shrimp. Permit me to introduce Connery and his lady friend, Zeta: … Continue reading →

Posted in Shiny Dinglehoppers, Something's Fishy Here | Comments Off

Boys Will be Boys…At Any Age

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Susan Spann

While driving to work this morning I saw something so awesome I had to share.* My neighborhood is aging, and many of our neighbors are couples in their late 80s and early 90s. Many of these couples walk regularly for … Continue reading →

Posted in Lessons Learned, Running Amok | 2 Comments

Reads and Reviews: Die Buying (by Laura DiSilverio)

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Susan Spann

Die Buying: Military police(wo)man E.J. Ferris became a “mall cop” out of necessity, after a roadside IED injured her leg and forced her early retirement. Her new job hardly presents a challenge – until an unpopular real estate developer ends … Continue reading →

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