Sold!!!! Not 1, Not 2, Not 3...

Here is the story--I was running out of contracted books to write--I am nearly finished writing The Highland Wolf in Paradise--only 7500 words to go--and so I've got to get a proposal to my editor. I submitted the proposal for 3 more wolf tales, Tom's story and two more Highland wolf tales included.

She said she wanted me to think about what I'd do for the future, something different, so I researched jaguars and proposed that I write a series of jaguar shifters--my thinking--they're predators like wolves, beautiful creatures when in their predatory form, territorial, but they don't believe in family, like wolves do, or mate for life. So my shifters would have to be different--fighting their cat nature to take a mate for life. That's because though I want to create the stories as realistic as possible, I need the HEA for romance. So that's what I proposed for the future!

I received the call from my editor after she went to the editorial board, and was thankfully off Friday when she called.

Sourcebooks bought all 6 books!!! The...



three wolf tales and...

Jaguars are among the many species which will have habitat protected under a new proposal to protect the Patanal region of Brazil from further sugar cane development. Photo: Getty Images.

three jaguar shifter stories.
Now I need to write up a proposal for the story idea for the 1st of the jaguar shifter stories and it might be coming out in the spring next year. That depends on how fast I can write it! Anyway, I've got to work on that as soon as I finish The Highland Wolf in Paradise. I'm way ahead on deadline, so I can do this! I think this book isn't even due until next year!

So what do you think? Ready for some more wolves, and a few sexy jaguars too?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Paranormal Short Stories Available on Nook!

They're up! But unfortunately though the books made it, the covers didn't. They show on my title page, but that's invisible to readers. *sigh* So I'm still trying to figure out what to do. The covers made it to Kindle just fine.

It's all been a great learning experience! Just click on the book cover and it will take you to the B&N page. :)

Goddess in Training

Ebook By Terry Spear
$0.99 Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: Feb. 19, 2011
Category: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author
Words: 9089 (approximate)
Language: English

Seducing the Huntress

Ebook By Terry Spear
$0.99 Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: Feb. 12, 2011
Category: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author
Words: 18013 (approximate)
Language: English

The Siren's Lure

Ebook By Terry Spear
$0.99 Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: Feb. 25, 2011
Category: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author
Words: 18592 (approximate)
Language: English



Some years ago, I wanted to make a webpage for my bears, and I did! And then websites for books, and played around with blogs, and now making book covers and video book trailers and...well, who knows what the future holds?

But what's fun is that I love learning how to do new things. It's important to always be learning, expanding our horizons, experimenting with new technology, not letting ourselves go the way of the dinosaurs.

Don't you think?

Don't ask me about programming stuff into a phone--I mis-punched my daughter's name into the phone and never could figure out how to fix it--lol--, or figuring out how to do much more than "play" a movie--not into recording programs and all that stuff. Though I did figure out how to take a picture of an object with my phone and save it. But what to do with it after that?

I guess it just depends on how useful I feel something is that will entice me to want to learn more!

But sometimes all it takes is some added incentive. I knew when I developed my web pages for the bears, it was the only way I'd sell any to anywhere in the States. I had no idea I'd be selling bears around the world!

Or that with my books, I'd be connecting with readers all over the globe as well!

Have you tried learning anything new lately?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

There Will Be Dogs and Cats...Wolves and Jaguars that is...

My wolves are eying a cat (big cat) who's not in the picture. But you can see with their narrowed eyes, they aren't really happy.

Such is the case with some canines and felines. Which in the wild can be understandable. They're both predators and as such, both hunt for much the same food. And they're territorial also.

But the difference is that wolves live in packs, most cats don't. Big cats, that is. Except for lions and their pride. But that's a bit skewed because the male has a harem. Not at all fair to all the damsels to my way of thinking.

So the cat shifter will have to make some adjustments if he's to find a mate and live happily ever after. He can't be all cat.

My cats and dogs loved each other. But big cats? As in shifters? They know werewolves don't exist. And werewolves? No way is there any such thing as a jaguar shifter.

So what would happen if the two should meet? Trouble.

Because they're territorial. The same as when a wolf strays into another pack's territory.

There's bound to be trouble.

And that's how it all begins. A bunch of wolf packs, and then...

A jaguar...



Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Yikes, Another Wedding!!!

On Valentine's Night, my daughter called to tell me the news--she's getting married.
She's too young, I'm thinking!!!! He's too young.

This is a picture of my son and daughter getting ready to attend an AFROTC military ball--they were presenting a swing-dancing show. :)



But they're not all that young either, and I'm just thinking she's still way too young. They've been dating for about 3 years, so it's not a sudden thing either, and they're waiting almost a year to get married--January, so she'll be even a year older.

So why am I not ready for this?

*sigh*

Life is ever changing. I have to keep reminding myself of this. And I'm truly happy for them, but just not ready for this.

She called to tell me last night that we need to shop for her wedding gown. What? Now?

That means I'll have to pick up something also. Argh.

Anything she wears will be gorgeous. Guaranteed.

Me, that's a whole 'nother story. But this time I won't wait until the last second to buy a dress! When I looked for a formal for my son's wedding, I just figured, no problem. They'd have them everywhere. Not so.

I'm glad I only have two children. I don't think I could go through a third or fourth wedding with subsequent kids!!!

I'm very happy for them and I know the wedding will be a success. At least it's not until January. Maybe by that time I'll be more ready for it!!! I thoroughly enjoyed my son and his bride's wedding in Pensacola, Florida, last year. It was truly special. I know this one will be also.

What about you? Have expected-unexpected news like that???

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Eye of the Panther

I've been revising an old shapeshifter tale that was inspired some years ago by a call for submissions: A coffee shop within a bookstore.

Could be anything. Horror. Contemporary. Historical. Anything.

It was supposed to be a short story. So I wrote it as a futuristic--heck, even now paperbacks are becoming dinosaurs. At the time I wrote the story, ebooks didn't even exist. So I wrote the short story, sent it in, and got a very curt response back from the editor--Submissions by INVITATION ONLY.

Hmm, it didn't say anything about that in the submission guidelines that were online for everyone to see.

No problem. But no matter what other projects I was working on, this one kept plaguing me. The full story hadn't been told.

I grew up on Star Trek episodes, and so always loved the idea of exploring other worlds. And my son and I played the game Dune based on the book and movie, since I was always dying on my own during the fight scenes. But we ended up battling everything so fast, somehow, that we played ourselves out of the game. Both of us just stared at the game, disbelieving what had happened.

But what I wanted to do more than anything, was not constantly battle the bad guys, but turn the desert planet green. You could do some of that, but I had to quit trying and stop to fight more bad guys.

When I drive through deserts or prairies or meadows--in my mind, I turn them into forests. Must be the wolf in me. :)

But the people on this planet aren't just ordinary humans. They're shapeshifters. The heroine is a panther and her brother a dragon. And the warrior who is forced to come to their aid--think totally reluctant hero--is strictly human. It involves secret scrolls, and potential planet domination, a desert planet that desperately needs some greenery...adventure, action, mystery and romance. The short story evolved into a full length novel!

So now you see where I come up with some far-out ideas? A coffee shop, a bookstore, and desert planet that needs some serious gardening work. Bookstores and greenery fascinate me--so it was easy to fall in love with the idea. :)

It needs a lot of formatting and editing work, but when I have the time, I'll be working on getting it ready to publish. The book has never been published before, and never even been sent to any publishers--but it's so different from my other works, I figure it would be better to just upload it myself. :)

So hopefully to come soon--Eye of the Panther, the super title, courtesy of Donna!!!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Goddess in Training

It's up! One of the things an agent said that writers must do if they're to get anywhere in this business is read. I can't imagine not devouring tons of stories every chance I can get. I just finished judging the 7 books I received for the RITA contest, and I have two more contests! Woohoo! No books yet.

But no matter what form they come in--ebook, audiobook, paperback, or some other I'm not thinking of--stories make the world go around. Can you imagine how dull life would be without reading?

Yet, for a time, I didn't read--at least not for pure enjoyment. I can't even imagine that now. But when I was working on my bachelor's at West Texas A & M and master's at Monmouth University, I didn't read anything but school work. And when I was working on my basic and advanced Army personnel courses and Command General Staff College, I didn't read. And when I was raising two little kids and teaching them to read, I didn't read. Okay, so I did. But I didn't read for me. I read for them. When I began to write, I found the pleasure of reading again.

What the agent also said was you have to read to see what is selling in the market.

Well, I had a lovely conversation with an author who sold 9,000 books last month for titles that she wasn't being paid for with an epub. Where? She uploaded them herself at Smashwords. This is not to say this is the only way to go. I'm happily published with my other publishers, but it's a way to sell stories that have either been published before and the publisher is now defunct and the author has the rights back, or for authors who have the rights back to earlier works that never had a chance to be turned into ebooks because back then they didn't exist.

It's also a chance for works that don't fit into a NY publishing house's mold to find an audience. Of course the cautionary word here is to make sure that it's been proofed a million times, have a critique partner go over it, really revise and revise and revise. Because if you're going to self publish, they should be just as good as anything that readers have to pay their hard earned money for.

Even if the books are offered at a much lower price--as an incentive. Check out my books, my voice, but it won't cost a fortune. :)

So Goddess in Training is up!

From an early age, I loved reading Greek and Roman mythology. I loved watching Hercules and so many other movies that had to do with the gods. I wrote this short story, way before I was a librarian.

Disclaimer:
This is a hot sexy short read and is not about any librarians I know. :)

Goddess in Training

Ebook By Terry Spear
$0.99 Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: Feb. 19, 2011
Category: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author
Words: 9089 (approximate)
Language: English

[add to library]

Ebook Short Description

In a game of the gods, librarian Lisandra, who has never been loved, is chosen to be the goddess of fertility.

Extended Description

In a game of the gods, librarian Lisandra, who has never been loved, is chosen to be the goddess of fertility. The demi-god of pleasure, Assarian is ordered by Zeus to train her in the hallowed halls of Mount Olympus to prove to his wife, Hera, goddess of marriage, mortals and immortals alike only need be physically satisfied to find fulfillment, to which Hera disagrees—all creatures must have love to be whole.

Tags

romance, sexy, greek mythology, librarian, greek gods, zeus, sexy books, sexy love story, sexy contemporary romance, hera


Have you ever stopped reading for a good long while?

Have a lovely Sunday!!!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Not into Tattoos but...

I'm really not into tattoos, but sometimes even someone as picky as me can change her mind. Sometimes it can be considered artwork. Or maybe it's not the tattoo that caught my eye. Hmm, the sculpted body truly is a work of art when it looks this good.



For those of you who have read Killing the Bloodlust, I'm considering offering it in an ebook. Before I do, I'll want to do some more revisions. Anything you'd like to see done differently?

That's the fun with writing. I can change the words, move them around, add, subtract. It's a work of art. Yet some things--like painting can't easily be redone.

I was joking about the spoken word yesterday with a fellow co-worker. I told her I do much better with the written word than the spoken word. I have a chance to revise it hundred-fold in writing. In speaking? It's just out there, bare naked for all to see. And no chance to take it back.

If I had a choice of being a speaker or a writer, you know which I'd prefer. What about you???

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

A Million Things to Do and Not Enough Time to Do Them!

Night before last, I was working on final line edits for Heart of the Highland Wolf. But before I turned out the lights, I read some more of a book I'm judging in a contest. I still have 4 others and 2 more contests to judge after this.

Are you goal oriented? I am. It makes me tick. :) So I was very nearly done with Heart of the Highland Wolf this morning before work. Only 11 pages to go! argh. I managed to finish it at lunch and send it off! Woohoo!

So I wanted to finish the book I'm reading for the contest tonight also. It's nearly done. Alas, I haven't been able to work on The Highland Wolf in Paradise, but intend to get my word count in this weekend. :)

And I missed doing a blog yesterday. Why? I slept in!

By accident!

And I was TRYING to finish the edits on Heart of the Highland Wolf before work. I don't have to have them done until next week, but I'd rather work on this stuff and get it done early. Because, next, I'll be getting editor notes on Dreaming of the Wolf.

I have never lived by Scarlett O'Hara's philosophy of life. "I'll think about it tomorrow."

Tomorrow comes and the deadlines pile up even more.

It reminds me of a case last night: A boy came into the library needing a library book for school the next day. It's 30 minutes before we close and grandpa doesn't have grandma's card to check out the books. Not only that, but they need to go to another library to get another book so he can have it for school the next day.

I asked the boy when he had been given the school project? A week and a half ago.

I've always tried to get jobs done early, if I can. Because who knows what tomorrow will bring.

What about you? Do you tend to think about it tomorrow? Put off today what you can do tomorrow?

Or take the bull by the horns and get the job done today?

After the week I've had at work though, I feel the bull has run me over a few times and the week is only half through. LOL!

Terry

"Giving the term alpha male new meaning."

www.terryspear.com

Final Edits on Heart of the Highland Wolf

I loved the architecture in Scotland. Quaint and historically appealing. Here is a cafe, although I didn't mean to get such a great view of their garbage cans. LOL We were driving by and so I snapped the shot.

I love final edits! It means that the book is getting close to release. It's a last look to see if there are any errors. It makes me feel that my current work in process can be just as polished too!!!

I love rereading a book that's near release. I've agonized over the beginning, of how it will continue, of how it will end. I've researched and researched and researched to make it as real as a werewolf tale can be.

I love the humor in the story, and the mystery and the suspense. I loved the tie in to historical times and Highland warriors and a castle and clans. I loved the push pull of Ian and Julia's relationship...the desire and pulling apart.

I'm always thrilled to finish a book, but the true enjoyment is in reading the story one final time before it goes to print. When I don't have to look to rewrite scenes, but just to enjoy and try to catch any small mistakes, or change a word or two that would sound better a different way.

Some have asked do I reread my books after they're in print. Yes, for continuity when I'm writing about the same pack. Would Ian's brother Duncan act such and such a way in The Highland Wolf in Paradise? Would his brother Cearnach? Each have distinctive personalities and it was fun showing the differences.

Just like with Destiny of the Wolves.

So I'm off to read some more of Heart of the Highland Wolf-which is no longer work now, but just plain fun. The only bad part is I'm having so much fun writing The Highland Wolf in Paradise, I hate putting it aside!!! :)

Do you ever hate having to redo things though?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

This is How I Feel!

Yep, I'm so glad it's Friday. Usually, it's just another day of work, but today, and I have no idea why since I took off Wednesday because of the icy weather--but I definitely feel it's a Friday and the need to have the weekend break!!!

Of course, I wrote all Wednesday...so it wasn't like I lazed around all day. But how could I have a day off in the middle of the week and still feel I need a weekend break so badly???

Anyway, I feel like all of the above!!! Ever have a Friday like that?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

The Flooding Saga Continues...

Night before last, a patron had not had their movies unlocked after checking them out at the self-check out. We have signs posted all over saying remember to have them unlocked. If I see someone at the self checkout, I try to remind them to come over to have the movies unlocked if they're heading out the door instead. But we get busy with patrons and can't always see this.

Anyway, the woman was pounding on the front door. We were closed. Had been for half and hour, and she was making motions to the janitor that she wanted her movies unlocked. I had 3 people come in the next day who hadn't done so. But the thing of it is, we're open every single day. So you can't watch a movie one night. Find something else to do! And just how important is it?

The janitor was relating this to me while I was unlocking this woman's movies, and the woman looked horrified that the janitor had been so cruel. Legally, the janitor couldn't unlock them, nor can she unlock the front door to let patrons in or do library type work. I told the woman that this wasn't like having a leg amputated, that if the individual didn't have it done pronto, she would die. People really need to get a grip.

I talked to my daughter last night about her flooding situation. They made her move all her furniture out of the apartment. But they just said, "Move it. We're reflooring the kitchen, redoing the walls, replacing the carpeting, and the ceiling."

"To where?" my daughter asked, as if she had a storage facility all lined up.

The woman finally gave her an empty apt and my daughter had to arrange for friends to help her move. And 4 other apts were ruined as well. Now, that was a nightmare. That was something to be concerned about.

Getting a movie open is not. :)

Hope all your problems are of the locked movie variety and nothing worse!!!!

Have a super great Tuesday!!!



It's going to be wickedly cold tomorrow--freezing weather, snow and ice. So I'm bracing myself and keeping the heat on and the faucets dripping. And remember to comment on Casablanca tomorrow--that's when I have my brilliant post. :) And the chance for a free copy of the ARC of Heart of the Highland Wolf!!!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

5 Blood Drops for Wolf Fever!

Wolf Fever by Terry Spear

Title: Wolf Fever

Author: Terry Spear

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca/ www.sourcebooks.com

ISBN: 978-1-4022-3752-2

Genre: Paranormal Romance; Shape-Shifters

Pages: 399

Price: $7.99

Rating: 5 Blood Drops

Reviewed by Amy Ramsey of Ramsey's Reviews

Wolf Fever is a sizzling hot read! Every page radiates with action, romance, mystery, and suspense. Terry Spear is an expert in her field of writing, storytelling, and creativity. The characters are vividly expressed, grabbing the reader from the start and the plot (I don’t know how Terry comes up with these great tales) is spot-on throughout the entire read. Thank you, Terry Spear, for once again ensnaring me with one of your books. Wolf Fever is highly recommended to anyone who loves shape shifters (the were-wolf kind) and lots of sultry romance. . YUM! =)

Thanks to Amy Ramsey, who gave such a delightful review!!

Mondays are Mondays--way too busy even though we're open every day of the week and we're horribly short-staffed. So getting such a nice review first thing on Monday is a delight!

We have a little break in the frigid weather today, but by Wed it's bad news again. But it's also my day to post the hot kiss from WOLF FEVER at Casablanca and the day you all must comment, or anytime during the week afterward, to be eligible to win the unproofed ARC copy of HEART OF THE HIGHLAND WOLF. Just think--it's the first chance to read the 1st of the Highland wolf tales way before it even is released in June!!

In the meantime, other authors continue to post their kiss scenes from their books, and the top prize, 10 books, to be sent by a grand prize winner will be coming from Sourcebooks!!!

So be sure and comment EVERY day at Casablanca for a better chance at the grand prize!

With heavy duty writing, I actually managed to finish 2/3's of THE HIGHLAND WOLF IN PARADISE with 30,000 words to go. How did that happen???

Getting closer to the end is always fun because the excitement and problems are building and building and building, and someone's got to win. Well, the good guys, of course, but how???

I'm working on that. :)

I don't immediately know. Don't plot out my stories.

The heroine, Shelley Campbell, decides to take the bull by the horns and calls the bad guy. When her hero, Duncan MacNeill, asks what she's going to say, she doesn't quite know. She'll wing it--once she hears what the bad guy has to say.

And that's exactly how it goes. He starts to talk, she thinks of what to say, and voila! The scene is written. Well, not all of it. I still have to go back in and layer it with more emotion, actions, etc. But the scene is now ready to make real. Scenes like that have been playing in my head all morning--they're all vying for a chance to be in the book, but only the right ones are allowed. :)

A fan wrote to me that she wanted to reach through her computer monitor and hug one of my heroes, she felt so bad for him. I loved it!!! That's what we as authors strive to do. Create characters that are so real, so endearing, so evil, so frustrating that readers want to love or throttle them.

Then we've done our job.

In the old days, werewolves were only the stuff of legends--and never of a romantic nature. But now, why even they might bring their loved ones something special for Valentine's!



At Wolf Park, they have a special "Wild Valentine's" for the month of February--discussing wolf love. Wish I lived closer and could participate!


What was the nicest thing you ever received for Valentines???

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Valentine's Early!

It's time to share the love, and so not only will we be giving a whopping big prize package at Casablanca, but one lucky, very lucky winner, will receive an advance reading copy of Heart of the Highland Wolf, due out June. Just comment on my Casablanca post on February 9 [winner announced a week later, so everyone who comments has a week to drop by] for a chance at an early look at the upcoming book!

You see, what happened was, I couldn't get hold of Gerard Butler to read a copy. *sigh* But that's good news for everyone who comments, because now some lucky wolf (I would never call anyone a dog), has a chance to read his copy. You can ignore the lipstick kisses on the first page. :)

I'm excited to see what everyone thinks of Highland wolves...in action. :)

Pucker up your lips and get ready, because many of us all month long are talking about that first kiss.

What about your first kiss? Was it truly remarkable?

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Always a Bridesmaid and Never the Bride...but Then...

Okay, so it might be a strange analogy, but that's the way it usually is. Everyone around us is getting snow. We have predictions of snow. It's supposed to snow. 40% chance. 60% chance. No snow.

I get up this morning at 5:30, make hot tea, no snow, I knew it and begin working on The Highland Wolf in Paradise, return 4 hours later to get another cup of tea,



and voila, four inches or more of snow on the ground!



Now, before my Northern friends start laughing too much, we rarely, rarely get any snow. So it's a big deal. LOL :) Just like rolling blackouts and frozen pipes.



It was very dark and gray out, but I didn't mind. I was at home working on my manuscript...but today when I have to go into work, that might be a different story!

The worst of it was, I got a call from my daughter's apt manager last night because she was in classes and they couldn't get hold of her. Her apartment had been flooded and the ceiling collapsed. Ruined her computer, tv, some of her college books. argh. She'd had the same problem as me--frozen hot water pipes. Insurance will hopefully cover it. Luckily she wasn't home when it happened and she had her laptop with her. What a mess. But it made me realize how important it had been to stay home until my pipes had thawed out before I left for work on Thursday.



Happy Snow Day! And hope this was the worst of it!

Valentine's with the Casababes

Comment to win!

The Sourcebook Casablanca authors are having a party!

Prize throughout the month and a grand prize!

The party is here:

http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/p/valentines-with-casababes.html

Leave a comment on our blog and you'll be entered to win drawings throughout the month. Also, EVERY commenter gets an entry in our drawing for a grand prize pack featuring more than TEN SOURCEBOOKS.
You can get one entry a day for the Grand Prize so come by daily!

Starts February1

The more you comment, the more chances you have to win.

Good luck! And Happy Valentine's Month!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

Humor in Cat Form

When the weather and rolling blackouts gets you down, it's time for some humor.

Have you ever read Humor in Uniform? Well, this is Humor in Cat Form.

Talk about security issues. You really have to want to fly, if you're willing to risk taking THIS plane. But these big cats aren't dumb. They've found the only shade and the red carpet treatment to boot for miles around. :)



Ever feel like the momma cat? Pretending that junior isn't doing what junior is doing?



This reminds me of "x" marking the treasure, cat style. And the treasure? The dish of cat food that's nearly out of reach.



All we need is a little loving, or better yet, a big lot of loving...



A good meal...



And a good bed to keep us toasty and warm!



Thanks, Susan, for sending some humor my way! With more rolling blackouts scheduled, this is certainly welcome!

Hope you all have a some humorous moments to light your day also!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com

What to Do without Electricity???

Ahem, when I looked up images for black night, this was what I got! :) Not exactly what I had in mind!




I was up at 5 AM, trying to catch up on everything, heat on full blast, writing away on The Highland Wolf in Paradise, which I hadn't saved constantly, like I know I should, and bang! No electricity.

No heat. No hot water for tea. No light for reading books for the Ritas or Daphnes I have to read for contests. No writing on The Highland Wolf in Paradise.

No heat. And it's one degree chill factor.

The only good thing, I'm thinking, is that my frozen food should stay frozen. The bad thing is I can't open my garage door manually, so no work. And the worst thing is...no heat.

And no light. It is blacker than black in my house when there isn't a lick of electricity on at 5:30 in the morning. I usually can wander through the house in the dark to find my way to the bedroom without lights on, but even so, there is scant light. Not so this morning.

I thought I was walking my usual path from where my desk is to the bedroom, but somehow I ended up between a chest and a couch and loveseat. I was so disoriented, I couldn't figure out how to get around the chest, so groping around, I climbed over the back of the loveseat and continued on my way. To bed. The only place I could keep somewhat warm.

And thought briefly about not being able to go to work, about trying to find a lantern so I could call about the electricity, although everyone was getting ready for work, so I figured they'd already had tons of calls. I thought about all the words I'd lost on my mss, after having just typed them all up--note to self, save constantly--and then about where I was going next with the mss. And I think I might have been drifting off to sleep when...

There was light. And heat. And *sigh*...back to the computer, another cup of hot tea before I lose electricity again, and a toasted bagel.

And yes, I lost about 200 words on my mss this morning. Grrr

Hand writing this stuff does have some advantage!!!

What do you do when it's pitch dark and you can't do much of anything? Read by candlelight? Or give up and go to bed? And if you're lucky? Take your wolf with you. :)

Terry

"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."

www.terryspear.com

The Joy and Perils of Ice

Aren't these ice sculptures the greatest? Today, it's cold enough that even some parts of Texas could have ice sculptures. Thanks to Donna for sending these to me from Minnesota.

Dallas actually does have ice sculptures, but they're indoors.

Ice is great in this form, but when it's on the road and bridges--that's another story.

We have wind chill in the single digits today and sleet with an accumulation possible of 1 inch with winds of 25-35 mph and gusts up to 40 mph as a strong Arctic front moves through the area. They're warning to wear hat and gloves because of hypothermia and frostbite. I wonder how many will wear shorts today.

My home was shaking in the middle of the night, several sonic booms of thunder lacing the area, and everything is covered in a sheet of ice.

It looks like rainwater. But it's dangerously deceptive.

I've driven on black ice before, several times when I had to--in the military, you don't just choose not to go into work. And I drove in 1st gear the whole way to Fort Hood, Texas, because when changing gears into 2nd, I began to slide off the road like everyone else in front and behind me. So I drove in first, and made it. Only to find that they closed the post for 2 hours. Great to know when there was no other option but to keep going forward. Or into the median, like so many did and got stuck.

I had an accident once, driving on ice, trying to get into work over a mostly closed based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, but I had duty. I didn't make it.

I nearly wiped out on a bridge driving to Fort Sill--the whole road dry until I hit the bridge, and did a drunken zigzag all the way across it, barely missing the railings on either side until I finally met dry pavement at the end of the bridge. Luckily, the next car coming hadn't made it to the bridge yet.

I was caught in a blizzard, both at Fort Meade, Maryland (at the same time that the plane crashed into the Potomac nearby) and Fort Monmouth, NJ and so nearly had accidents both times as my car decided to go a different direction than I wanted it to as I was trying to get home after work. I needed to take a vacation somewhere in the islands after I got home. As long as I didn't have to drive anywhere to do it.

I remember my mother telling me how she didn't bother going into work in Texas as she was a cosmetic saleslady for a major department store and it was icy like today. But two other women she knew did, and wrecked their car, the one breaking her leg. And she, like I, have to cross twin bridges over a lake to get to work.

And it reminds me that sometimes, it's better to just stay home. Everyone else will anyway.

:) The only thing good about today is the Internet is still up! Normally, it crashes during storms and high winds!

Have a super great day!!!

Terry

"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."

www.terryspear.com