Schooled on the Weekend...

3:06 PM Elizabeth Seckman 24 Comments

I guess we're always learning...even on our 'days off'.

Friday evening I went grocery shopping with my husband. It took him ten minutes to clean and de-germ the cart. I poked fun at him. He asked, "You don't clean your cart?"

 No. I'm a mad woman who lives life on the edge.

By Sunday afternoon I was curled up on the couch crying over aching joints and a stuffy head. He made me dinner and did the dishes...while constantly reminding me it was my "damned dirty grocery cart ".

Lesson learned. Thank you, Chad Seckman, OCD extraordinaire.

Saturday, I knocked a glass off the counter and broke it.

Cole (#2 boy) came rushing in. Something broke!

MOM DID IT!!!

Cool. Welcome to the club, Mom. But you still rank amateur in the breakage hall of fame.

Originality of story? 0 points ...I should have been doing ballet spins in stocking feet and knocked it off.

Value of breakable? 1 point...cheap freebie glass from McDonalds, easily forgettable

Effect of damge? 5 points....glass scattered from one doorway to another...smashing!

It was good to learn there is a system in place to rate damage history...I understand Carter (boy#3)still holds the record high score

Sunday my mom calls to tell me she fell and broke a rib. I gave her the required lecture on her need for Life Alert.

"Oh hell, my life alert works fine. Rob (the neighbor) was over here in five minutes and I don't have to pay him a monthly fee."

I suppose with age does come wisdom...and it's a good thing...something has to offset the loss of balance!

So, how 'bout you? Learn anything good this weekend?


24 comments:

Using My Words in an Interview

9:21 AM Elizabeth Seckman 15 Comments

Today I'm over at Cassie Mae's blog answering a few painless questions..she didn't ask me my weight, so that makes her an interview genius!
 She also didn't get me lunch. :( 

Buuut, she did help me out with a wonderful blog critique (she'll do one for you too...no need to pout!) and she said so many sweet things about me I should buy her lunch. But travel is a problem.

Instead I offer her this little morsel. ;)  

Feel free to go nose to chest, Cassie. He's virtually all yours. 
(Cheesy pun totally intended!)

So head on over by clicking your heels together and saying "I want to go home"...if that doesn't work
                                        CLICK HERE


15 comments:

Happy Lent!

9:52 AM Elizabeth Seckman 15 Comments

Should read, "Hello, my name is Jerry and I'm a writer."
Okay writerly people! It's the first day of Lent...which is according to the FREE online dictionary... "The 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday until Easter observed by Christians as a season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter".


Last year, I admitted to my many failed attempts to shed chocolate and calories (the diet as devotion strategy) as my Lenten sacrifice (read about it HERE)...and that it was always a fail.


Sooo, this year, I needed a new plan and since I have added so many wonderful literary types of friends, I am proposing this challenge...


Brush off years of educational English class training which taught our brains that more is always betterer (yeah, I know there's a flagrant grammar error there...just seeing if you're paying attention) and we slaved to write papers where the word count was king. It was a time when an adjective before every noun and an adverb after every verb JUST MADE GOOD SENSE!!!!


But now you know fellow writer, the literary world rarely appreciates such prosey prose (editors are cringing from this post!!!). So, here is the challenge...


For the next 40 work days...remove 10% of the words from every chapter, every post, heck even from your kid's school notes.** 


Trim away...and let me know how it goes. 


** for all you writers still in school...you have a pass... you are exempted from removing the surplus of superfluous syntax even if it borders on ridiculously redundant if it gets you to the magical, mystical word count number. 

15 comments:

Lessons From Honey Boo-Boo Child...

9:40 AM Elizabeth Seckman 7 Comments



Surely, you've all seen Alana from the tv show, "Toddlers in Tiaras", right? If you haven't, check her out. To say the child has personality is an understatement; the child IS personality.

She is the least pretentious, most precocious little beauty around.

But the biggest talk around this little fire ball of fun is the go-go juice debate.

Do I agree with feeding a six year old caffeine and sugar to hype them up? Of course not. As a mom, I'm more inclined to give my kids Benedryl shots to slow them down. *joking*

Go go juice aside, what troubles me about all of this is the not so subtle pokes at the little girl for being chubby. I watch the show. There are so many questionable things those moms do in the quest for the crown that I am stunned this one even rates.

Like I said, not an advocate of Red Bull for kids, but give this mom some credit. She's raised a child who is gloriously comfortable in her skin. She's not filled with self doubt because she's not molded to the ideal image. And frankly, that's rare in young ladies.

I'd hate to see her lose the brilliance of her confidence in a debate over whether or not she's carrying too much around the middle because mom feeds her caffeine and sugar.

Stay beautiful Honey Boo-Boo Child. You're perfect!

And Momma June? You won't win mother of the year with the go go juice, but you do get a thumb's up for raising a strong little lady in a world of insecurity and eating disorders.


7 comments:

For Amber...

10:03 AM Elizabeth Seckman 18 Comments


Fellow blogger Amber, at Unyielding, had a wonderful post about the true inspiration behind being a writer. The day I read it, I had received a rejection on a new piece of work that I had quite a bit of hope in. The rejection came with the frustrating simplicity of, "The time period is not one I have much luck with."

It took me months to write that book. And it was rejected for the TIME PERIOD?!

Sure let me get right on changing that....NOT.

So, yes, I was in a bad place. Then I read Amber's post and it was a gentle reminder that I had my row of ducks walking backward. I write because I love to write and I would do it for free. I am doing it for free right here. But we sometimes forget and become obsessed with selling. We become desperate mail junkies checking in boxes like we're looking for crack and we get our high when it's there only to crash when it says, "sorry writer, this isn't right for my line".

It reminds me of watching Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on the Oprah show. They had written a little screen play which wasn't getting too much love in the literary world, then boom...here comes the Oscar winning "Good Will Hunting". She asked if they knew when they wrote it that they were creating a block buster. I think it was Ben who said, they just wrote what they knew, about people they knew, and they were so hungry to sell they would have taken a cheeseburger for it. They wrote out of passion. They wrote to tell a story.

So, here's the way I see it. Insecurity goes hand in hand with writing, maybe we're a sensitive lot; maybe it's the abuse we take with the abundance of no and harsh critiques...whatever it is, I have found most of us are just a wee bit obsessive about what will make us 'for real' writers. At what point are we validated and worthy. Is it a royalty check, an advance, adoring readers?

Well, maybe it's none of those things.

And that's why Amber's post spoke volumes to me. We have to remember the reason we write, and for most of us, it's not for the money.

That said, I hate to admit this, but the little voice of insecurity doesn't seem to go away, even after the contract is signed.It's just a new bag of insecurities...will it sell, will they start to edit and decide they made a mistake...things like that.

But when we remember WHY we are writing, and for most of us money has nothing to do with it...then I say write and publish wherever and whenever you can...small press, shorts, articles, blog posts...whatever conduit of expression you can find, use. And enjoy.

If we only focus on the top ten list as the measure of success, we'll be in trouble. Few make it there. We have to live the day, accept the success we have for that day and remember, it's not about the money.

And if it is...every time you send a query, buy a lottery ticket so you can double your chances of hitting that pot of gold.

18 comments:

Signed, Scanned, and Delivered...

10:59 AM Elizabeth Seckman 21 Comments

I always imagined the day I signed a publishing contract would be a magical sort of time. You know, the glimmering writing fairy would show up and ceremoniously hand me a golden pen and I'd sign while birds sang...

Well, it went more like this...my husband (who is my voice of reason) read over the contract with a microscope and  questioned every clause and option pestering my logic resistant brain with questions...

And my kids? They were more concerned with...

Did I buy more milk?

Did I check homework?

Did I wash clothes and where were the clean underwear?

No...almost...and yes, but it's all still in baskets.

So, it wasn't fairy dust laden, but it was memorable.

My guys took me out to a celebration dinner and offered a bounty of advice....pen names that could be shared with strippers and some marketing ideas that could land me in jail. I also got a balloon gram from my nieces (thanks Kari and Stacey) and gifts from my mom as we took a moment and missed my dad, but quickly decided he was happy dancing with us.

So, that's officially how I came to sign with World Castle Publishing for the sale of my first book, "Past Due".

World Castle is a small press owned and operated by Karen Fuller. I googled Karen before I ever talked to her and decided I liked her when I read she was a NASCAR fan. Now, I honestly don't know a single thing about racing, but I'm inclined to think a lady in the publishing world that lists speeding cars over wine drinking as 'her thing' is my kind of people. And after I spoke with Karen, I am certain I made the right assumption. World Castle is Karen's baby and she has put her life's savings and her soul into making it a success. And I'm flattered she wants me on board.

 With God's grace, I hope I can be a blessing to a lady who is willing to take gamble on this untried author.


'Author photo'. Not sure if cute pooch was required, but I added him just in case.





21 comments:

Wheeling Couple Celebrates 70th Wedding Anniversary on Valentine's Day

11:08 AM Elizabeth Seckman 3 Comments

Wheeling Couple Celebrates 70th Wedding Anniversary on Valentine's Day

This is such a sweet Valentine's story. It's well worth the minute to click on the link above.

When I think of true love, I think of couples like these guys. 70 years and they're still smitten.

Happy <3 Day!!!

3 comments:

My Origin Story

12:23 PM Elizabeth Seckman 24 Comments

Oh my...more blogger fun. This one comes from DL HammonKatie MillsAlex Cavenaugh, and Matthew MacNish

Gonna have to break out the Red Bull to keep up.

Not really, I'm doing a little cheating. I've blogged about this before. 'Why' I write was my very first blog post. And as the mother of four boys, I loathe repeating myself...For example, heading into church, I simply have to say..."default church setting"...that translates to...we are late, go in quietly, take your seat without pushing or arguing...if you fail, you don't go out to eat afterward


I guess I'm saying, why re-do what I've done so well already? So here is a shameless cut and paste on why I write....From my original Blog Post...FROM BOAS TO REALITY


Even as a little girl, I wanted to be a writer.
Okay, so my idea of a writer was mostly  influenced by Felicia Gallant of  “Another World” … sooo basically, I just wanted to spend my life wrapped in boas (the feathery kind) and click around in high heels (on the marble floors of my mansion!).
What I am finding is that writing is, ugh, work. There is no little fairy sprinkling golden words and ideas on my little blond head. (I think Steven King may be holding her hostage, I just can’t prove it.)
So, here I am. At the beginning.  The people in the ‘know’ tell me I need  to blog. And I need to publish some shorts (oh no, not my britches!). And I need to enter contests.  And I need to attend conferences. And I need to network. And I need to join writer’s groups. And I need to write. And I need to edit. And I need to query. And I need to research.  And for crying out loud, MAY I PLEASE HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO READ?
And I’m thinking I better pray.  Pray for a change of heart or the endurance to compete. It’s a tough world out there. So many good writers, so few good readers.
So, it’s important to bring the A game. Don’t get sloppy, don’t get cocky. My college English professor, Dr. Hart (Heartless was the pet name I fondly used in my thoughts). He gave me the first B I ever got in an English class. I was stunned. It almost brought me to tears. He stopped me as I was leaving the class.
He asked in his uber thick German accent, “Miss Hartman. Did my B surprise you?”
“Uh, hell yes.” (I really just nodded…understand, what I say and what I think are rarely congruent)
“You have talent Miss Hartman. But you are lazy. I’m sure you’ve earned  A’ s your whole life with writing that is ‘good enough’, but in this class, you better be prepared to stun me to get your A. Now have a good day.”
“Pecker head.” (okay, so I choked out a simple ‘thank you’…what else do you say to a scary German guy who holds the power to end your scholarship with a B?)
So, now when I write. Dr. Heartless, uh I mean Hart, is my muse (Darn you King, release the fairy!). He sits on my shoulder and barks, “lazy” until I struggle word by individual word until I hear him say, “eh, that’s better”.

Being a writer was this child's dream. Dr. Hart was her reality.

24 comments:

I'm a Winner!

9:53 PM Elizabeth Seckman 5 Comments

Like participating in the "I'm Hearing Voices" blog fest wasn't fun enough, I just learned I am a winner! Yay me ! And thank you, Angie Cothran @ Live to Write...Edit When Necessary for being a freaking genius and recognizing my awesomeness.

Yes, I am bragging, cause I read the entries and they were good. I would hop from one blog to another with the sinking feeling of,  no wonder no agents are calling me, awesome comes a dime a dozen! So, yes, I am proud. The competitors were lean, mean, writing machines.

I also need to thank Cassie Mae @ Reading, Writing, and Loving It. She's a near genius...LOL...she gave me runner up...but she also gave my blog a once over then sent me tips for improvement. They were all dead on and I think the little old blog is far better for it.

The best part of the week long 'festival' was all the talented new friends I 'met'. I just know there are many future NY Times best sellers in training and one day,  I'm gonna brag to everyone I know that I knew them when...

Thanks guys!


5 comments:

Blog Fest Day 3!!!

1:36 PM Elizabeth Seckman 13 Comments

Last day of the Blog Fest. Nothing left to do but clean up the confetti and go home...


Well, that's not totally true. I was also tagged by Kyra Lennon in a quick game of tag. It's not the sweaty tag, it's the get to know you, then make up my own questions, then tag others with questions, tag. It's all good sneakerless fun. :)


First the tag:

1. If there was only one food you could eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
     potatoes. I've heard a potato has all the nutrients needed for survival. And you can cook them multiple        ways. 

2. What was your favourite TV show as a child?

       Wonder Woman. There was nothing she couldn't do~ even hide her air force suit in her spandex girdle.       Amazing.

3. What movie do you dislike, that everyone else seems to love?

      Titanic...just too freaking depressing. 

4. What was the first record/cassette/CD you ever bought?

     Ahh, good times. Prince '1999'...bought the LP for the full spread half naked Prince. Yep, good times. 


5. What would songs would be on the soundtrack of your life?
     "If I Only Had a Brain"...from the Wizard of Oz. I'd like to think it'd be something cool, but I'm betting if my life were put on film, it would be a montage of me tripping and walking into walls.

6. If you could excel at one thing, what would it be?

     Picking winning lottery numbers

7. If you could choose your own first name, what would you choose?

     Serendipity 

8. Can you remember the first story you ever wrote? If so, what was it about?

     Yep. A tragic 2 page love story with the amazing line of  'her busted lip didn't sting half as much as her pride'...in the 7th grade. Ah, if only I could rekindle my blue ribbon winning PTA days.

9. What is your favourite snack?

popcorn

10. Do you have any pets, and what do you have?

I have too many. I'm a sucker for kids who swear they'll take care of them. I have two dogs, a cat, 4 fish, a frog, and a hamster...and they are all up for adoption...just kidding...sort of

11. Who or what inspires you?

My husband. He's always my biggest fan even when I suck. 


Now that you know 11 things more about me than you wanted...let's move on to Bella. 


She's sweet, well usually, but you see, Jack has over stepped himself. Seems he refused Bella's marriage proposal then acted like he 'owned' her in front of some very randy men.


 Silly Jack, you can't own a woman like you can a puppy.




Jack grabbed the flour and Bella took her paper wrapped parcel and offered a sickeningly sweet smile at the men as she passed. For Jack who held the door for her, she cast an icy glare.
He followed right on her steps. “Bella, I…”
“Get in the wagon.”
“Bella…”
Her head whipped and the muscles in her jaw twitched. Jack shook his head and threw the flour and a sack of beans he grabbed into the bed. Bella climbed into the driver’s seat and snapped the reins. Jack stood, mouth hanging open in the cloud of dust kicked up from the horse as she drove away. Once he realized she wasn’t slowing down or turning back, he ran after her hurling himself into the bed. He maneuvered to the front trying to get in the seat as she aimed for every bump and hole in the road.
Bella never looked his way. She rode out of town with her head high evidently not noticing that Jack teetered on the back of the seat like a tight rope walker. She smiled and waved to people as she passed, but they ignored her.
 Jack settled in beside her coughing and shaking his head, “I was only trying to help you.”
Bella snapped the reins and the horse moved faster.
“Slow down before you kill yourself.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!”
 Jack grabbed the reins and pulled Nero to a stop. “Thought you said you would be obedient?”
“I suppose that’s why I’m not the marrying type.”



Now I guess I have to tag 11 others....so...
Ashley Nixon                                                    Kelly (Between the Bookends)   
Jess Stork                                                         Emily King
Tasha Seegmiller                                                Amber
Sara (Cutest Landing)                                        Melodie Wright
Cassie Mae                                                       Valentina Harper
Kristen Pryzb...screw it...just go with Kristen

And here's your questions ladies.....

1. Favorite Christmas present?
2. Cat person or dog person?
3. What's your biggest pet peeve?
4. If you could hire only one...would it be a driver, cook, or house keeper?
5. Date with a celebrity...who would you pick?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Favorite holiday and why?
8. Scariest moment in life?
9. Kindle or paper book?
10. If you could only get one tv channel for the rest of your life, what would it be?
11. If you could have only one...which would you pick...perfect weight for the rest of your life or 1 book on the best seller list?

It's been real. Now I better get a house cleaned before the health department calls. :)

13 comments:

Blog Fest Day 2!!!!

10:46 AM Elizabeth Seckman 14 Comments


Second Day of the Blog Fest "I'm Hearing Voices" continues. Today's challenge is a 'dialogue only' introduction to characters in 250 words or less. Thanks Angie and Cassie Mae for making me think on this snowy hump day. :)




“Miss! Miss!”

“It’s Mrs.- Mrs. Daniel Clemmons. Agnes to my friends.”

“Well, Agnes, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Susan Brown, the head of the women’s league? Here at Pine Crest Baptist? You new in town, or visiting?”

“Jut visiting. Stuck here a while. My husband’s moving some cattle for a man up north.”

“I see. Well, I hope you like it here at Pine Crest. Did you walk here? I don’t…see…anyone waiting for you.”

“I rode with Bella. She’s waiting outside.”

“Bella Stanley?”

“Umm, yeah. And she is waiting, I better…”

“YOU are the one staying with Bella? And the murderer?”

“The what?”

“Why Bella…is having relations with a murderer. God help the girl, like having an affair with a buck and getting a divorce wasn’t enough to tarnish the…the…woman…enough.”

“Affair? Divorce? Why, I. Bella never said anything of the sort. And dear lord, Jack never mentioned any of that!”

“Why he’s the murderer! Jack, Jack Byron. They say he killed a Yankee. And I know it’s just a Yankee, but still it was a soul.”

“Jack Byron?! He’s my brother! He’s not a murderer!”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, I’m certain. He’s my brother.”

“Did you know he was in prison?”

“Of course. But it wasn’t for murder.”

“Mmm, hmm. Well, do you realize that ever since Jack appeared, no one has heard hide nor hair of Bella’s husband? Or rather, her ex-husband. Makes a body wonder.”

“Wonder what?”

“Why, wonder if the man has killed again.”

14 comments:

Blog Fest!!!

9:57 AM Elizabeth Seckman 25 Comments



I’m blog hopping today.  That might sound strenuous, but truly, it’s more like a party with make believe people and the writers who brought them to life. So for this party, I put on my best pajamas and invited one of my favorite characters, Isabella Francine Troy Stanley, to come with me and put herself in the spotlight and answer a few of the nice blogger’s oh so personal questions for  Cassie Mae and Angie’s  “I’m Hearing Voices” blog party.    Let's head over to Characters on the Couch for the week long blogfest!



Come on Belle, your bonnet looks fine, we’re late and gotta go! Yes, it matches your shoes…good grief…why did I invite a debutante?


1.       Bella, what is your biggest vulnerability? And do others know or is it a secret? Oh my!  My what?  Secret? What would make you ask that? I swear, but certainly not to God…my husband just ran away. Oh goodness, I thought you said this would be fun.

It is Bella. Have a sip of tea and relax. They're just questions to get to know you better.

Hmmm…I declare…feels more like an interrogation.

Okay, calm down...let's move on to the next question...

2.       What do people believe about you that is false? Hmmph…that’s easy. Everyone thinks I’m just a silly girl who ignores her studies and thinks of nothing but balls and gowns, but that is simply not true. And honestly, it’s just a little offensive.

3.       What would your friends say is your fatal flaw? Fatal? Why, what?

Okay, not fatal, Bella, what would Tessie, she’s your mammy, right? What would she say is your biggest flaw? 
Oh, why that’s easy…she tells me so all the time…I never use my head. I make all my decisions with my heart. And that may sound fluffy headed, but truly, the decisions I made that were sensible? They were nearly the death of me.

4.       What would Tessie say is your redeeming quality? Hmm…She mostly tells me to mind my manners and my tongue, but I think if pressed, Tessie would say I am….loyal. Yes, that’s it. She would without a doubt say I am loyal. And that’s because I would gladly die to help those I love.

5.       What do you want most? Can everyone read this? Even Jack?

No. Jack’s is still back in 1868. They don’t have any internet. He'll never know. And my lips are sealed.

Oh, then. Jack. I want Jack. And I’ve already bribed Yankees for him, so to keep him…I will do whatever it takes. I know he had a fiancĂ©e before he went to prison, but she’s not good enough for him. She isn’t loyal enough. I’m doing Jack a favor making him love me. Even if Tessie says I don't have the sense God gave a mule, I know...Jack was meant for me. I've known it since I was thirteen and he came to work in Daddy's stables.

Speaking of Jack...are we about done? I hate to be gone too long.

Why yes, we are done. Thanks for coming Bella. See you later for some more edits.

Why of course. Any chance you might write me in a new bonnet? A pink one that would offset the hollows in my cheeks after the winter? I mean I understand that I have to be poor now, but couldn't you at east give me a few pretty things to wear?  

I'll think about it Bella. Have a safe virtual trip back. 

25 comments:

Support for Brock

10:09 PM Elizabeth Seckman 16 Comments

Last April my son Cole had a lump on his finger that initial tests indicated sarcoma.

It felt like a ninja kick to the gut. No parent wants to hear any words that mean cancer attached to their baby's name...ever.

Cole was fine, but as we left the hospital we passed through a waiting room filled with kids who were still waiting to be cleared or God forbid waiting to be diagnosed with a parent's worst nightmare.

The words kids + cancer should just never have to be linked together.

Fifteen years ago, when our friends Kevin and Lora Yeater had their baby boy, my husband shared  the good news by telling me, "Kevin and Lora had a boy. They named him Brock Lee."

"Brock Lee?"

"Yeah, after Kevin. Kevin Lee, Brock Lee."

"Seriously?" I asked. "Did they think that through? It sounds like broccoli."

My husband had a good laugh and admitted he was joking. His middle name wasn't Lee.

So, the other night when he told me... Brock has leukemia, I hoped to hell he was pulling my leg, but I knew even as twisted as his sense of humor was he wouldn't joke about this.

I only wish it were a joke. And I'm sure everyone who loves him feels the same. Brock has been diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. At an age when his only worry should be what kind of car his grandma will buy him for his 16th birthday, he has to concentrate on the fight. We know it's a fight he will win, but some support along the way would be greatly appreciated.

If you'd like to send Brock a message of support and prayers (I'm a BIG fan of prayers)  contact him at
brocksbattle@gmail.com

Brock's Blog   Click here for updates from Brock.

(And Brock, look on the bright side, I bet you'll be picking the car of your choice, huh Grandma Sharon?)

16 comments:

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