It's Done!

Finally the book is done at the editor!!!! Here is what she had to say...

I finished proofreading your book yesterday and just finished typing up some notes for you to go along with the marked-up text.

You've got a really good story in this book. Once you get it cleaned up (don't you hate that? I know when I write I figure every word is perfect and there's no way anyone can improve it -- I'm always wrong!), you'll have a good story that packs a big punch.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you -- and seeing your book in print! P...

Okay you can only guess how excited Kiku and I are; we were just talking about this at work today! I want to give this bit of advice I have learned studying magcik: Send good out and you will get good back. Think positive no matter what or how long it takes.... Our thoughts create manifestations. Everything we things goes out into the universe and will manifest. A friend I made during the research of this book reminded me of this just yesterday.

So far 2006 has been very interesting to say the least!
Fading...
Lodemai

Kiku found this artist; Jasmine Becket-Griffith this piece is titled 'Mardi Gras Masquerade'.

Sunday Morning

Artwork of an Mystic Angel the artist is unknown...

Still working with the plot of 'The Vault' I feel sorry for Detective Stone. He is probably my favorite character to write with Maximillian being a very close second. The Detective is a very good man and a excellent cop its just the cases he has been sent to work on are occult crimes which is something he hates and knows nothing about. He trusts the girls and can't figure out why he does so easily, grant it helps that the girls figured out 150 years of murders which spanned 5 cities and hundreds of victims while saving 15 more civilians.

Maximillian is some what of an illusion you see him as one thing yet he is another. This can cause problems for Talia because when it comes to men she is not the most trusting; yet she is totally in love with him.

The girl Talia and Aurora are easy because they are real to me I see and feel how they would respond. Even with Simeon I always know what he is thinking he is easy he is going to follow Aurora. Don't get him wrong he has a temper but he is about keeping Aurora safe even though he does not understand her world of magcik. With the help of Maximillian he is trying to learn.

The problem comes in when faced with something you never thought was real on in Hollywood movies; how do you react. Even the girls will be in denial when they realize what form of evil has moved into the Quarters.

The lines of the faith, trust, loyalty and love will be pushed to the limit.
Fading...
Lodemai

Finally News!!!

Okay you have read about Kiku and I going crazy over the last several weeks. Finally, today it looks like our waiting is almost at an end.

We have received word from our Editor and here is what she has to say:
I'm still working on the book --- and I apologize that it's taking longer than I'd anticipated. Little things like work, school, and a sick kitty keep interfering. I was planning to use the entire upcoming weekend to finish it -- your book is the ONLY thing on my calendar for this weekend!

There are changes that need to be made, but these are mostly technical, grammatical, punctuation type changes. The core of the book -- the story-- is GOOD!!!!

Hang in there -- I know how anxious you and Lodemai must be!

Talk with you later.

As you can guess I feel a lot better having this information; Kiku is amped and ready to start writing again full force. I have a busy couple of months ahead with work, kids, school, and book two 'The Vault'. Nothing is going to keep me from writing and Kiku and I need to start our weekend power meetings. This time always gives way to great ideas and focus to our book. What a way to start 2006 so with that I choose this artwork from Jessica Galbreth with the perfect statement LIVE YOUR DREAMS!!!!

Fading...
Lodemai

Fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

This very special message is for the Cookie Fairy aka my little sis...

I have joined Hike for Discovery which is a nonprofit adventure training program that benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Our big event this year will be hiking in the Grand Canyon, but I've set my sights higher than just training to hike into the canyon. I also aim to raise at least $3,700 to help find a cure for blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and Hodgkin's disease.

The money I raise will pay for support groups, educational programs, and financial planning for afflicted families. It will also fund grants for doctors who are working toward better treatments and a cure. Their efforts are critical, because blood cancers kill more children in the United States than any other cancer and strike even more adults. An estimated 114,530 new cases of blood cancers will be diagnosed nationwide this year alone; some 54,480 patients will lose the battle.

This is where, I'm hoping, you come in. Though I can do the training, I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. Every dollar you donate is tax deductible, and at least 75 cents of it goes directly toward research and patient services. If you would like to donate I have several options you can choose from. You can go to the following website: http://www.active.com/donate/hfdgmo/hfdCSkaggs and make a donation or you can let me know that you would like to donate and I have a form that can be filled out for those who want to donate with check or cash.

All donations are greatly appreciated and there is no donation too small. If you have any questions or would like to know more about the cause please let me know just post a comment and my sister Lodemai will email me your request.

As you can see this is very important to my sis so I chose this Artwork 'Sun Fairy' by Amy Brown. If you are ever blessed to meet The Cookie Fairy then you will understand she is truly the sun in ours lives.

The Party

I just got home from a after my birthday party. My second mother, also known as my boss at one point, but today she has moved over one of my closest friends. She gave the party which equaled herself (Via), her best friend (Ann), Kiku and myself. The food was fabulous and the drinks flowed all night.

It was a good time to sit around and enjoy good company, food and drinks. She really is a great hostess. I really needed the time away from the kids just a girls night.

I did some tarot reading and we tried to us the spirit board but I was too far gone for it to be safe. I like to be free of Volka when I'm working with the board I don't want to open anything by not being able to concentrate and there was no concentrating at that point. Kiku and myself need the break to stop worrying about the book. Plus it was a very long week at work.

So I'm going to take a short nap and start back to writing I'm still working with Detective Stone and his new case. Aurora is on her way home from a get away in St. Louis while Talia is has been handling the store "Fae Dreams" in New Orleans. Maximillian is getting ready to leave for another bounty and Simeon is worried that Aurora is going crazy and he does not know how to help her. With all of this death has moved to the Quarters and the girls need to be ready to save the ones they love.
Fading...
Lodemai

Artwork from Jessica Galbreth.

Losing It

Okay still no word on the book. Kiku and I are losing it. We have started on the next book 'The Vault' but it would be so nice to have the feed back from the first book. Kiku is going to call the editor by Monday to get an update.

We just need to hear something!!!!

We are getting ready to start looking for publishers we need to find one that focuses on our style of book. I never realized there are so many different kinds of publishing houses. We still have a lot to learn but we are well on our way.

Fading...
Lodemai

Day After

Yesterday was my birthday and my goal for the 14th was to do nothing. I was able to do that for part of the day but it is not in me to waste an entire day away. My family and friends found their way over and they even had a Mini cake for me. It was nice lately I have not had a moment to breath so to have a day that I don't have to think was a very nice change of pace.

Still no word from the editor so Kiku is going to email and see what the problems. Kiku and I do not want to get too far into 'The Vault' if there is some problems with 'Fae Dreams'. Talia and Aurora are ready and waiting to see what will happen to their world next. While their men will be struggling to hold on to the girls even the best relationships can have unseen crashes in the future. The key will be the truth; the challenge will be to face the truth even if it means losing the one you love.

Fading...
Lodemai

This artwork is named 'Hope' it is another from the collection Nene Thomas.

Patience

Still no word on the book and my birthday is coming up on Saturday I'm hoping to hear back by Monday but the little voices in my head are on overtime. Of course I'm thinking there is something wrong; so to combat that thought what I have done is make myself focus on 'The Vault'. Yesterday I worked with Stone's story weaving some of the past story of 'Fae Dreams' into the 'The Vault' I'm waiting to hear from Kiku to see if she like the direction I am heading. Since we write together we must be in agreement as to how the story flows. For us it is very important to stay true to our characters we want them to be as real to the readers as they are to us. Stone is waiting for me to finish his scene so gotta go...
Back to 'The Vault'
Lodemai

This artwork is a new creation from Nene Thomas titled 'Direwood' I selected this work because it takes me away to a special magical place.

Family Time Saturday

Artwork from David Delamare I choose this one because of the mother and child. Just reminded me of me with my kids when they were babies.

Today I was out with Jen and T-Bird she needed an outfit for her company party tonight. Then it was movie time with T-Bird, when my sis made it home we played domino with Alexzander. Now play time is over and back to the 'The Vault'. I'm working on the detectives today.

Detective Stone is one of my favorite character to write because he is this honest, salty, good cop with a kind heart. He just doesn't believe easily nor does he open up to new people or things, but that's changing with the more he spends time with Aurora and Talia.

Back to the shadows...
Lodemai

Going Crazy!!!!

Okay the holidays are over and I'm so tired of waiting to hear back from our editor. I'm going crazy! Kiku and I are about at the end of our rope. I know during the holidays you lose nearly two weeks. This however starts the little voices in my head which are saying there must be a problem with the story, or she doesn't like it. Its amazing how many games your mind will play when your anxious.Enough of the worrying back to writing; Aurora and Talia are waiting for me and Kiku to return. Remember Do not try DO! and that is what I'm doing.
Fading...
Lodemai

This art selection is for my little sis. Title is 'Book Worm' from Amy Brown.

Tessa's Blackeye

This is my little T-Bird, she looks all sweet and innocent however; today she lost a wrestling match with one of the boys. It ended with her face hitting one of the hard plastic toys.

She now has a black-eye on the left outside corner of the eye. When I walked into the daycare it was the first thing I saw. Some parents would be upset not me, T-Bird plays hard and accidents happen. Its all part of growing up, but call me proud my little girl is a tomboy at heart just like her mom.

Watch out world here she comes.
Proud Mama - Lodemai

5:20 am Warning

Okay my plan for today was to sleep in since I have the day off.

NOT!!!

Around 5:20 this morning I hear the tornado sirens going off. Well my first thought was it's the first Monday of the month so it was a test. I just thought how rude to do it so early when it normally happens around 9:00 am. I lifted my head up when I see a big flash of lighting followed by the familiar crash of thunder I knew this was no test. I was on the second floor; I grab my 2 yr old and proceed to the main level. (Tessa is still fast asleep in my arms). Alexzander's room is in the basement and he was fast asleep and already the safest part of the house. So I flipped on channel 5 to see that a massive storm covered the St. Louis area; now all you can do is wait.

Living in the Midwest (even in St. Louis) you get use to this kind of thing. I should have know this would be coming it was just in the 20's then the last 2 days it has been in the high 50's this morning we hit the 60's prime time for tornados. We were lucky no tornados in the metro area but I'm sure the surrounding area got it worse you only need to drive about 20 minutes to be in the country. The most we got was a lot of wind and rain. As fast as it came it was gone.

Its now 10:00am and bright outside with a grey cast, I dropped my son off at school and kept my little one with me for the day. Now I have to start writing 'The Vault' is waiting to consume me.

What a start to 2006 (I wonder is this an omen)...

Lodemai

2006

Artwork from Amy Brown titled 'Looks like trouble'. Hmmm sounds like me...

Okay this post will be devoted to our New Years promises to ourselves. So here we go...

• Kiku has a mantra - Let it go... This goes with last years Keeping it real...
• Lodemai I have to go back to jedi ways - Do Not Try Do! (defeat is not an option.)
• Cookie Fairy - Making the world better one cookie at a time :-) (yes she is a 29 yr old hippie she is the happiest damn person!)
• Super Cheeseman - What the is your theme this year????

Enjoy...

Lodemai