Hunted Lyon

I've been more scarce than usual.  And that's really, really scarce.

But I have a good excuse.  Really, I do.

You see, my NaNoWriMo goal this year was to have the novel I've been working on for four years finally ready for publication.  At some point, I had to quit mucking around and just do it.

So I did.

I'm excited about this book.  It's been a labor of love and I've learned a lot about myself in the process.  Namely, that I am who I am.  I can't imitate other authors.  People will either love my writing or hate it, but it's me.  The more I tried to be someone I wasn't, the more I hated the book. I dropped the pretenses and - viola! - I love the book.   I've learned to appreciate (even more so) authors who can paint pictures with their words, for whom flowery descriptions flow from their fingertips onto the page.  I have an editor who makes my writing much less clunky, but who doesn't try to change my "voice", for which I am forever grateful.

I'm blessed to be married to an incredible graphic designer who comes up with drool-worthy covers.  Heck, even if you hate the book, you have to love the cover.

I'm also blessed to have a daughter who is a total BA and was willing to become the "face of Stacy Lyon".  Note: Ashinator can, and does, shoot.  Rifle, shotgun, pistol.  Ambidextrously.  Don't mess with GunDiva's daughter.

Barring unforeseen catastrophes, HUNTED LYON will be available for purchase from Amazon on Sunday, December 1.

Halfway There

Back in September, I got all excited about the opportunity to take an online class based on The Walking Dead and immediately signed up.

The first week was The Foundation of Survival.  I struggled a bit with this class, because I don't buy into Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.  I just don't.  I've seen too many people move ahead in life despite not having fulfilled one of the "basic" needs.  For example, I had a homeless student who spent time in and out of the hospital with brain infections.  She graduated, got healthy, and bought her first home.  According to the Hierarchy, she shouldn't have been able to focus on her education if she was unable to meet her basic and safety needs.

Week two was Public Health and Diseases.  Finally something I was comfortable with!  I loved this section, but I'm hard-pressed to put my finger on just why I loved it, other than Public Health has always fascinated me.

Evolving Society was week three and I was caught by surprise.  I didn't think I would like this, but after listening to the lectures and then watching the examples given, I started looking at the show in a whole new light.

Shoot me now!  I mean it.  This week was even more painful than the Maslow week.  Gah!  Social identities.  Bleh.  I made it through.  Barely.

But only because I'm looking forward to next week's class: Modeling A Zombie Outbreak.  Yes, there will be math involved, but it goes hand-in-hand with the Public Health issue of outbreaks, which makes me happy.

We're Officially a Writing Family!

Back in August, I published my first book.  It was a long time in coming, as the stories contained in it spanned nine years.  I was overwhelmed to hold my book in my hand when it arrived in the mail.  I thought nothing could ever come close to that feeling of accomplishment and pride in my work.

But then, Jay finished his children's book.  When I finally got my hands on his proof copy and got to look at the vibrant colors in the illustrations and run my fingers over the characters I have loved for almost five years, well, that feeling was even more profound than when I held my own book.

I watched Jay bring his characters to life and to finally get to hold the book in my hand - it has to be similar to holding a newborn after watching your spouse go through pregnancy and labor.  I couldn't stop picking it up and flipping through it.

If you have small children, you have to buy his book, not because my hubby wrote it, but because it's just so beautiful.  In most children's books, the artwork supports the story, but in Jay's book, the story supports the artwork.





You can find it on Amazon now or Barnes and Noble in a couple of days.