Is not a kiss the very autograph of love? ~Henry Finck

So I found out I placed 4th in the New England RWA First Kiss Contest. Here is what the editor said...

The writer does a good job of creating a sexy chemistry between the hero and heroine. The premise is unique—always a good thing.

She also said to be careful that my heroine does not come off as shrill. None of the other judges or my critique partners have mentioned this but I will take a second look.

I have finally completed the scene after the first kiss - Hooray!!!

And finally broke through the 20,000 word mark. In the month of January I'm starting my own take on NANO with my friend Yolanda. A thousand words a day. Which will send me over 50,000 word mark - 5,000 words short of THE END.

"A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water." Carl Reiner

Home from work today as the roads are covered in ice and snow.

Still working on Love By Design but the good news is that I've finaled in the New Englands RWA First Kiss Contest. I was able to revise it before it goes to an editor at HQ for final judging.

"The lips know only shallow tunes. The heart is where great symphonies are born." - Calvin Miller

At the Thrall Library Bookstore I came across an old friend - The Song by Calvin Miller which is part of The Singer Trilogy. The trilogy is a poetic narrative - The Singer (Gospels) The Song (the Acts) and The Finale (Revelation). I remember reading them in high school. Since it was only a dollar I thought I'd revisit and share a small part with you...

Let men embrace the rain.
Come, Wind, blow free
And stir the warm sweet breeze!
Dream, dreamless men!
Our empty youth come filled
with prophecy.
Our grunts now Spirit-washed
are words again.

The Great Invader breathes upon you
as a man
Of Holy Fire, from that far land
where all
Horizons meet. He knocks
with wounded hands
Upon the soul. And penetrates
the wall

Powerful stuff.

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu

I've ignored my blog since the 8th. Lucky for me this blog isn't a plant or a pet. I've been busy with all things - except for writing. Sigh.... But today I revised my first kiss scene - up-ing the emotion. I pretty happy with it. Next comes the fall-out/reaction scene then onto the sex scene. Yes, sex scene - not a love scene - not yet - (hey, they only met a day ago).

I've also set up the files for 24 poems I plan to write for a chapbook.

I've read a couple of non-exciting books but today I picked up lao tzu: tao te ching: An English Version by Ursula K. Le Guin (prostrating myself at her feet). She includes commentary and notes along the way. Here is one of the translations from the book...

Not Wanting

The five colors
blind our eyes.
The five notes
deafen our ears.
The five flavors
dull our taste.

Racing, chasing, hunting,
drives people crazy.
Trying to get rich
ties people in knots.

So the wise soul
watches with the inner
not the outward eye,
letting that go,
keeping this.

We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake. Marie B Ray

Spent the weekend with some friends from the high school days. We went to Atlantic City to see Chris Daughtry and got in some eating, drinking, and gambling as well. I'm blessed that we are all still friends and even though I only see them maybe 4 or 5 times a year, I can keep up with them via Facebook.

We had fun and giggled like we were still those teenagers like:
When we told the cab drive on the way to the concert that we were celebrating Linda's 21st birhtday.
Then on the way back somehow the subject of hot dogs came up...
Marla: I like Hebrew National
Liz: I prefer sausage
Linda: I like mine skinless.

Today, I'll be flying to Ohio and returning Friday - and yes, I just realized I'll be flying home on Friday the 13 (probably why the tickets were so cheap) - to visit my parents and my brother.

Before I go I'll leave you with one more Zombie Haiku by Ryan Mecum

I need to slow down.
it's hard, when eating fingers,
to tell whose hands whose

Zombie Haiku? Yes!

Darn that Amazon recommended list! All I wanted was the new Transformers DVD but I made the mistake of checking out the list of recommendations. And there it was Zombie Haiku by a Ryan Mecum.

Love all things zombie - I have the Zombie Survival Guide and according to Facebook I would survive a Zombie Plague. But for the most part, my zombie habit is under control, but how could I resist Zombie Haiku - all in the 5-7-5 syllable structure. Couldn't do it.

The book is set up as a journal that recounts the events of a poet turned zombie.

Here is one for your enjoyment

You are so lucky

that I cannot remember

how to use doorknobs.

okay, can't help myself - one more!

Blood is really warm.

it's like drinking hot chocolate

but with more screaming.

LOL! This book is riot!

The frosty night was like a fairy tale...from The Poems of Doctor Zhivago

I scored the above book at the Literacy Book Store for 1.oo!

The poems were pulled from Russia's Paternak's book Doctor Zhivago. The translation in 1957 ended 25 years of literary exhile for Paternak.

I'll admit I never read the book but I LOVED the movie and the soundtrack.

here is the ending of one of his peoms...

Like luminous phantoms the trees

Come thronging out on the highway

To wave their farewell to Night

That knows what is fated to be