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PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

JUNE 2020 (Posted 06/21/2020

By Chrissy Hartmann

It’s June. Graduation. Summer time. Hot weather. Cold drinks. Pool time. Ice-cream cones and lemonade. And what else? Rona. Yes, that’s right. Rona’s still here but with numbers heading downward the country looks like it’s on the mend. The economy is opening back up and climbing. Stock market hit 27,000 a few days ago. And continues to rise.

Woohoo! Woohoo!

So keep a smile on your face and hope in your heart. Celebrate life with your friends and family. Enjoy those weddings and graduation parties this month. But most of all live life to the fullest. Happier days are coming…

THE TOP FIVE

1.  Resubmitting requested manuscript for Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation to Entangled Publishing. Woohoo! Woohoo!

2. Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez from Olswanger Literary and Jessica Schmeidler from Golden Wheat Literary are two fantastic Literary Agents and Editors who know how to make a book shine! Yeah baby, they do!

3. Stock Market is climbing. 401Ks are on the rise. Cha-Ching! Cha-Ching!

4. Walmart online shopping and pickup service. Love it!

5. The Dexcom G6 CGM makes life easier. A1c down from 9.1 to 5.9 since February. Yeah baby, it is!

WIP IT… WIP IT GOOD…

Finally! My first manuscript almost ready to head off to the publishers soon for second consideration after making the changes they’ve requested. Hopefully next newsletter I’ll have good news. In the meantime, I’ll be working on the sequel to Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation, book II. This one is far from Whiskey, Texas, at least by horse it would be, but it’s actually set in Bermuda, which happens to be about a 2 to 3 hour flight. Five chapters written so far. Using somewhat of the same style for this one but instead of a diary using…a blog. But what kind of blog you ask? Well, you’ll just have to buy it to find out.

QUERYING…

Going to wait about two weeks before sending out queries for Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation again. Hopefully, Entangled Publishing will respond before they go out. If not, a recent list of publishers that the Muses have compiled will receive the query. It’s a cross between a romcom and sweet contemporary romance, which stars a cosmetic heiress, cowboy, and a quaint little Texas town who’s dealing with a mayor with making it the Sundance of the West…and don’t forget about the clowns and “dead” uncle. In fact, the same clowns will guest role in book II.

Literary agent, Kaitlyn Sanchez is helping me out with some edits. Hopefully with her help I won’t need to send it to any other publisher and will get an offer from Entangled Publishing. She’s great and I hope we can work together on this venture and the ones planned for the future.

THE CRAFT

This month’s writing tip…

Check out the website WRITERS DIGEST. Lots of helpful information on the craft.

http://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction

And if you need help deepening your narrative try these 6 ways…

www. bookmarketingtools.com/blog/6-ways-to-add-depth-to-your-narrative/

THE HOLIDAYS:

Memorial weekend has passed…Flag day came next. Graduations have come on and quietly slipped through time. No parades of remembrance and thanks. No celebrations of commencement. Father’s Day might resemble something of the past traditions. Hopefully rain won’t spoil the BBQ. Unfortunately though, a July 4th celebration doesn’t look promising either. Heck, they are already cancelling events for July and August. Haven’t heard about the cancellation for the Cleveland Writers Conference though, maybe there’s still hope for that one on July 11th. But even so, the rioting that’s taken place might quell any future plans for a writing conference attendance. Hopefully though these riots will vanish and peaceful protests will instead replace them. Makes no sense to riot when your cause is for peace and equality, right?

Ready to close the calendar for 2020 and ask for a Mulligan.

MY BOOKSHELF:

1. Waiting For Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

2. On A Snowy Night by Debbie Macomber

3. The First 50 Pages: Engage Agents, Editors and Readers, and Set Your Novel Up For Success by Jeff Gerke

SEASONAL FAVORITES:

SEASON: Summer

SPORTS TEAM: Cleveland Indians. Go Tribe!

COLOR: Dark Brown and salmon.

CAUSE: The Seeing Eye

SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

FOOD: Bacon wrapped asparagus. Yummy!

DRINK: Iced French vanilla and caramel cappuccino

FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet…both!

SERIES: Downton Abbey…yes just now watching it. Love it!

DID YOU KNOW…

Dexcom G6 is a fabulous continuous glucose monitor. No more finger pricks. This is almost like having the pancreas working on its own again. Provides a lot of freedom. One quick look at the iPhone app to see the blood sugars and you’re good to go. And if you want to dress your CGM up why not try an overlay patch from Expression Med? Lots of great designs. Puppy paws, flowers, flags, shamrocks, etc. Check them out with the link and get $5 off your firsts order. Hopefully you’ll love them too.

http://www.expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff

PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH..

• Murderous cops!
• Antifa and sponsored riots.
• Fake NEWS.
• Guilt by submission.
• Shutdowns.
• Vandalism.

THEY SAID…

This month’s quote is by

No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth. — Plato

HOMETOWN UPDATE:

• Walmart did manage to get the online ordering and pickup service going. Unfortunately, not many time slots to pick up the order and the chance is very high-risk items you want and need being sold out. This is frustrating, very frustrating! But their Facebook page says they are hiring. Hopefully hiring more shoppers. Aldi’s needs to get with the program and have online ordering with pickup service and not depend strictly on delivery.
• The vandals who defaced the public buildings and the Wayne County courthouse have been caught. Now they need a bucket of soap and toothbrushes. Or maybe a good paddling…better yet, both!
• Rumor says Ohio schools will be back in session this fall. But will they start in August or September? Will they go five days a week or less with online classes from home? Hmmm? With Rona fading away, hopefully back to our “old normal.”

INQUISITIVE MINDS…

The Muses want to know… Do you prefer

Action, dialogue, or narrative to start out your chapter?

GOOSING OFF…

Goosie & Gander

To start off this month Goosie and Gander looked splendid in their patriotic regalia to celebrate National Maritime Day on May 23rd and then Memorial Day May 26th. Celebrating Wooster’s class of 2020 graduation became a virtual experience. They’ve also been keen to wander through the garden and pick out some roses for National Rose Day not to mention the stroll through the garden patch to get some strawberries. And let’s not forget their patriotism for Flag Day. The rest of this month and the coming month should be just as fun with summer in full swing, pools open, 4th of July, bumblebee watching, and who knows what else. They’re game for any adventure, so if you have any suggestions comment below.

FIND ME…

Twitter:  @USAWriter355

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/USAWriter355

WEBSITES:

Dexcom  G6

https://dexcom.com/g6

Expression Med Referral ($5 off coupon)

http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff

Walmart  Referral ($10  off coupon)

Instacart Referral ($10 off coupon)

https://inst.cr/t/cTlEVXBRMWN1

Goose Outfits by Terri Fredericks

https://www.facebook.com/gooseoutfitsbyterri

The Seeing Eye

http://www.theseeingeye.org/

PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

April 2020 (Posted 04/30/2020

By Chrissy Hartmann

Spring is finally here. And even though most of America is on lockdown, Mother Nature still provides us with flowers readying to bloom, trees sprouting new leaves, and a clear path for the Easter Bunny to travel. The weather is warming up, enough to sit out on the deck and contemplate book ideas and how this year might end. There are no do overs for 2020, so push on for happier times. The coming celebration of the rebirth of Jesus Christ is a good sign, don’t fear, for this is a glorious time and we shall overcome. Keep your prayers going, wash your hands, and stay home as best you can. Remember, America is strong and shall always be America the Beautiful. Good luck to all, stay healthy, stay safe, and most of all have a blessed Easter!!!

THE TOP 5

1. Happy Happy Joy Joy! Easter is here! Thank you, Jesus! 💙✝️
2. Tax refunds! 💰💰 Cha-Ching! Cha-Ching!
3. Writing Book 2…SAVING WHISKEY’S SALVATION ✒️📖 Woohoo! Woohoo!
4. Lockdown is almost over! 🇺🇸Woohoo! Woohoo!
5. Jelly beans…the fruitier the better!🤍💛🧡❤️💙💜💚🤎🖤

WIP (Work In Progress):

Oh wow! So close to being done with Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation© edits. Good thing to, cause need to resubmit to EP by June 1st. definitely think the book is worth publishing. Spent lots of time writing and editing and have enjoyed every bit of it. Need to think about a page for acknowledgments and who to include in those. The Muses of course think they only need to be acknowledged. Ha! They are good, but not that good! Well, maybe…

Hopefully the beta readers will send their comments soon so corrections or additions and even deletions can be made. In the meantime, going to work on the sequel. Not 100% sure on the title, see potential title name above, but have the outline  done and five chapters written for it. Loving it!

QUERYING:

Target date to start querying for Rescuing Whiskey’ Salvation © is going to be June 2nd… but hoping to write the second book for Whiskey while we are under lockdown for the COVID-19 disaster. Ugh!

The finger tappers are working hard to write this novel and twitch with excitement with the other 50 stories rambling around in the noggin.

Going to plan plenty of time to pitch on Twitter and hopefully attend the Cleveland Writers Conference on July 11th…if it hasn’t been cancelled.

THE CRAFT

This month’s writing tip…

Check out Jami Gold’s Blog. Great advice for writing tenses.

Storytelling Verb Tenses: Past, Present, and “Literary” Past Tense <https://jamigold.com/?email_id=1574&user_id=675&urlpassed=aHR0cHM6Ly9qYW1pZ29sZC5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC9zdG9yeXRlbGxpbmctdmVyYi10ZW5zZXMtcGFzdC1wcmVzZW50LWFuZC1saXRlcmFyeS1wYXN0LXRlbnNlLw&controller=stats&action=analyse&wysija-page=1&wysijap=subscriptions>

THE HOLIDAYS:

Everyone probably woke up April 1st hoping COVID-19 was just a figment of the imagination. WRONG! Unfortunately, Ohio and other states are on lockdown until May 3rd. Looks as though the peak hit for this area, but looks like the stats were wrong. Easter was definitely behind closed doors. No big family get together this year. Learned how to use Cisco WebEx. Maybe next lockdown (Hahaha!) the family can do a virtual holiday. Hmm?

And major league baseball is postponed. If this gets over by the summer, they might still have half a season to go. Hopefully all the athletes are staying in shape. Would love to hear Hammy announce another tribe winner.

Go Tribe!

MY BOOKSHELF:

1. Write your story from the middle; a new approach for plotters, pantsers, and everyone in-between by James Scott Bell.
2. Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis
3. The Country Guest House; A Sullivan’s Crossing Novel by Robyn Carr
4. A Wild Pursuit by Eloisa James

MONTHLY FAVORITES…

SEASON: Spring!

SPORTS TEAM: The Cleveland Indians.

COLOR: Dark brown with pink and white

CAUSE: The Seeing Eye www.theseeingeye.org

SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

FOOD: Bacon wrapped garlic peppered Brussel sprouts…Yummy!

HOT DRINK: French vanilla cappuccino…Ooo! So good!

FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet…both!

DID YOU KNOW…

Dexcom G6 is a fabulous continuous glucose monitor. No more finger pricks. This is almost like having the pancreas working on its own again. Provides a sense of freedom. One quick look at the iPhone app to see the blood sugars and then it’s go time. And if you want to dress your CGM up why not try an overlay patch from Expression Med? Lots of great designs. Puppy paws, flowers, flags, shamrocks, etc. Check them out with the link and get $5 off your firsts order. Love love Love them! Hopefully you’ll love them too!

http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff

PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH…

• Tax fraud, someone stealing a family members SSN for taxes. Arghhhh!
• COVID-19
• Lockdown.
• No Easter family dinner get together.
• Stupidity…preferably from the progressive libs.

THEY SAID…

This month’s quote is by

John Grisham –

“Don’t compromise yourself, you’re all you have.”

HOMETOWN UPDATE:

• All is quiet here in Woo. The kids are finishing the school year via home school until May 27th, 2020..hopefully they can go back next school year.
• Wal-Mart still working on their renovations for online shiping and pickup are almost done. Supposed to be done May 1, 2020. Boy will that save a lot of time. Already learned how to use Instacart with Aldis and I love it!!! Already got my favorites folder filled to make finding stuff easier. Yeah, a good idea!
• Last month Lucky Records closed, but Josh Lehman from Operation Fandom bought the record store and has reopened it using the name Blackbird Records…a takeoff of a Beatles song. Woohoo! Woohoo!
• Downtown Woo is revamping the other side of the square this spring and summer. Unfortunately its near Operation Fandom, Blackbird Records, and Tulipan Hungarian Bakery. Ugh! Let’s hope it is completed before the summer is over. !

COMMENT BELOW

The Muses want to know… which do you prefer

Fruity or spicy?

Don’t get any wild ideas, we’re talking jellybeans, folks.

And which color is your favorite?

GOOSING OFF>…

Goosie & Gander

Its springtime so you know what that means, right? Bunnies, eggs, flowers, bumble bees, birds, and more flowers for them to show off. They’ll be sporting new shoes this season to match their outfits too. Rain is in the forecast this month, but never fear, they do have their own raincoats. And let’s not forget about the frogs they want to save. These are two geese well prepared. Check them out …they like to show off their duds.

FIND ME…

Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USAWriter355/

Expression Med $5 coupon by using the link: http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchof

(more…)

PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

February 2020 (Posted 02/14/2020

By Chrissy Hartmann

Love is in the air… And so is the snow. It looks as if Old Man Winter and Mother Nature have worked out their differences. Cold air and snowflakes have made their presence known. They’ve crawled out from whatever corner they took to until the little spat over what elements constitute an Ohio winter were settled. I think the flights of fancy have gone to Mother Nature’s head. But luckily, Old Man Winter set her on the right path. We don’t need the flora and foliage getting confused and overproducing again. Allergies will take that as an act of war. No way will the sinuses sacrifice themselves for that. So until the first day of spring, snuggle into a warm blanket, slide on a pair of fingertip-free gloves, and set them free across the keyboard … a fabulous way to keep the hands warm… unless, cupid’s arrow plunges into the heart…then all bets are off. Enjoy… and may many cards find their way into your Valentine box with love!

THE TOP 5

1. Love…Romance…Champagne…Roses…Aww!
2. The Dexcom G6.
3. Ornery kittens…Punkin!
4. Leap Year.
5. Acquittals.

WIP (Work In Progress):

Ugh! Still working on the edits for Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation©…will they ever end? Good thing this doesn’t need to be turned in until June 1st. Maybe if a certain writer would sit down and just do it, it would get done in a day. Rumor has it this certain writer is aiming for March 1st to be done with it all. The Muses want to get back to TAGS…Because Everything Has A Price©. Hear that Writer… GET IT DONE!

QUERYING:

This is totally on hold now. The Wayne Novelist Guild (WNG) has a few projects that are preventing any more querying. Hopefully they can be mentioned in the next update. Keep your fingers crossed.

THE CRAFT

This month’s writing tip…

If you are writing romances one book you might find helpful…

Naughty Words For Romance Writers, A Romance Novel Thesaurus by Cara Bristol. Purchased for the Kindle.

THE HOLIDAYS:

Valentine’s Day is approaching. Might try and make a few valentines this year or maybe a meme or two. Hopefully Goosie and Gander can help with this one. What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day gift? Mine? Roses…champagne…dark chocolate… Not too crazy about receiving cards though…. Not unless they are tactile or three-dimensional. Fun touchy-feely kind of things are good.  Hint! Hint!

THE BOOKSHELF:

1. American Brush-Off by Max Willi Fischer
2. Summer Of Suspense 16 Tales by Some of Christian Fictions most popular mystery and suspense Authors, by Mary Ellis….
3. Writing Deep Scenes, Plotting Your Story Through Action, Emotion, Theme by Martha Alderson
4. Sandusty by Bob Adamov

MONTHLY FAVORITES:

SEASON: Winter

SPORTS TEAM: The Ohio State University Buckeyes

COLOR: Dark Brown

CAUSE: The Seeing Eye www.theseeingeye.org

SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

FOOD: Stuffed mushrooms… OMG! Fabulous!

HOT DRINK: Hazelnut coffee with a shot of Minglewood Cinnamon Whiskey!

FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet… Both!

DID YOU KNOW…

Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year, right?  But did you know…

After the Roman Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage, Saint Valentine continued to marry men and women in secret. Even way back then men and women traditionally exchanged flowers on their wedding day, as a sign of good luck and the start of a “blooming” relationship. Today, we continue to celebrate love on February 14th, the day Saint Valentine died, by exchanging flowers, and the more modern gifts of chocolates, teddy bears, and …

PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH…

• Dexcom G6 sensor failure.
• Upgrade needed from Windows 7 to 10.
• High cost of life sustaining medications.
• Headaches that prevent writing.
• The weather.

“MAY I QUOTE YOU?”

“Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There’s too much fraternizing with the enemy.” – Henry Kissinger, Political Scientist

HOMETOWN UPDATE:

• Friday, February 7th… Night To Shine…Another fabulous event. Way to go Woo!
• New endocrinologist in town. Woohoo! Dr. Tony King.
• Rittman’s Sparky’s compares to if not better than Wooster’s Coccia House…NOT!

JUST CURIOUS…

The Muses want to know… Do you prefer red hearts or pink hearts for Valentine’s Day?

GOOSING OFF>…

Goosie & Gander…want to answer the above question…they love both! In fact, check out their pics on Twitter @USAwriter355.

They look quite adorable. There might be a shot with me and Punkin in a few to…Just depends if she will wear her pink and red ribbons for Valentine’s Day. Keep your fingers crossed. Hahaha!

Goosie and Gander are looking forward to the upcoming spring. Got lots of new outfits to show off. Hopefully the groundhog’s prediction comes true. But if an early spring shows up, but does that mean a longer summer too? Good gravy, hopefully not! Summer and Winter are not anyone’s favorite seasons here. Ugh! Too hot, too cold. Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!

Might need to talk to that ground hog, better yet, Buckeye Chuck.

AUTHOR LOCATOR…

Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

Facebook: Author Chrissy Hartmann http://www.facebook.com › public › Chrissy-Hartmann

PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

January 2020 (Posted 01/21/2020

By Chrissy Hartmann

Happy New Year! It is 2020! Wow! Another decade nears its end. Holy smokes! What will this year bring?

Right now, with the lack of the Ohio winter season of falling snow and bitter cold one might question if they have truly arrived in Ohio. For a writer the incentive to stay in and write vanishes each sunny warm day.

Crazy or not, but some writers prefer the decline in temperature and sparkling snowflakes in the air. And yes, some do prefer a blizzard or two. Actually a wonderful time to write. And read up. But not to worry. Because Mother Nature has finally arrived to entice Old Man Winter to climb out of his comfy chair and take a whirl around the floor. With their footsteps in sync, they dance gracefully to a tune of a chill in the air, icicles tinkling, and confetti of snow to celebrate the New Year. So grab your dance notebook, strap on your pen, flex your finger tappers for the keyboard, and strut out for the perfect time to waltz your words out onto the dance floor of creativity.

THE TOP 5

1. Writing.
2. Hot coffee and shortbread cookies.
3. Reading.
4. Dark chocolate kick-ass knee-hi boots.
5. Punkin.

WIP (Work In Progress):

I have written 12 pages of the thirty I need to finish the edits on Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation©. Spent a week researching how I could close the gap on my MC emotional distance. Thought of the perfect solution almost immediately, but wanted some verification if the idea would work. The Muses loved the idea, so of course, my doubts grew. But my beta readers did a read through of the material and loved it. So the goal now is to get the last twenty or so pages written and added to the novel, then proofread, and throw it out to the wolves…or I mean my lovely beta readers. Hahaha! Hopefully by February I will be back to writing TAGS…Because Everything Has A Price©.

QUERYING:

Honestly, after sending out a few last month and beta reading a couple of novels for some writing buddies, I put the query letters on the back burner. Probably not a wise move, but got it penciled in on the calendar for February to get ten more sent out. Keep your fingers crossed.

THE CRAFT

This month’s writing tip…

If you plan to read any books on writing, make sure that is what they actually are. Currently I’m 50% into a book on setting your pages on fire and from what I can tell, its just about writing fast. Not bad advice but I had hoped for more sustenance on how to make each page a real page-turner. Unfortunately, this book on the craft is not the page-turner I hoped for…Bummer. Too bad too, loved the title. Sorry, will not mention the book by title, do not want to shine negativity on anyone’s work of writing, but a hint of the title is above. Now back to the drawing board for page turning techniques.

THE HOLIDAYS:

* New Year’s Day is over…nothing big that day but a few mimosas and a nap after work. Yes, had to work, not novel writing work though. I wish!

* Looking forward to National Winnie the pooh day, which is January 18th, (this will probably be posted by then…I hope.)

* Also ready for the big celebration at the end of the month…yes, the big birthday. That is correct, I will finally be 21…again…and again…and, did I say again?

MY BOOKSHELF:

1. Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
2. The Other side Of Hell by Bob Adamov
3. Waiting For Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
4. Voice by James Scott Bell

ALL-TIME FAVORITES:

SEASON: Autumn (Only 9 months until its back!)

SPORTS TEAM: The OSU Buckeyes (13 – 1) Big Ten Champs But lost playoff to Clemson Tigers and FCC Zebras.

COLOR: Dark Brown (Got a new pair of dark brown lace up kick-ass knee-hi boots!

CAUSE: The Seeing Eye www.theseeingeye.org

SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

FOOD: Shortbread cookies and bacon Brussel sprouts (Yeah, shocked me when I wrote Brussel sprouts too, but hey, they are fabulous in the air fryer!)

HOT DRINK: Pumpkin Spice Latte with or without Rum

FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet…both!

DID YOU KNOW…

Author of Winnie the Pooh, A. A. Millne wrote at least 10 funeral readings in his book Winnie the Pooh?

My favorites are…

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred ……minus one day so I never have to live without you.”

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart…I’ll always be with you.”

“Sometimes,’ said Pooh, ‘the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH…

• High cost prescription prices for life sustaining drugs.
• Congress wasting time on false charges of impeachment.
• Not having enough time to write.
• Sinus infections.
• Slow workdays.

THEY SAID…

This month’s quote is by

HOMETOWN UPDATE:

• Author, Bob Adamov is speaking to the Wayne Novelist Guild at the WCPL Thursday, January 30th from 6-8 pm. Woohoo!
• University of Akron Regional Writers Contest Award night is Wednesday April 23, 2020. Good Luck writers!

GOOSING OFF>…

Goosie & Gander

…are thrilled…they finally get to play outside in their Frosty the Snowman outfit and Geese dress with snowballs. Adorable. Hoping to soon post a pic on Twitter of them out in the snow. They do want me to tell you that the new addition to the family, Punkin, our kitten, is quite entertaining when she tries to hide under them. Another picture that needs capturing. They were also touched to find that the kitten does not like them leaving her behind when they go out to play in the cold. Unfortunately, they don’t have an extra goose feather to keep her warm. Sorry, Punkin looks like you’ll need to wait for spring.

FIND ME…

Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

Facebook: Author Chrissy Hartmann https://www.facebook.com/pg/USAWriter355/ads/?ref=page_internal

PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

December 2019 (Posted 12/26/2019)

By Chrissy Hartmann

A winter wonderland arrives…Jack Frost’s job is complete. No more nips to the nose. Below freezing temperatures settle in. Abundant artic gusts curl the toes. A Black silk top hat, knit scarf, eyes of coal, and carrot nose patiently wait for falling snow. Mother Nature’s icicle wand swirls overhead. Stockings warm near a cozy fireplace. Christmas trees twinkle in the night. Ribbons and bows with colorful wrapping paper entice the onlookers. Merriness and good cheer fill the hearts. Jingle bells and carols sing aloud. Cookies and candies baked without guilt. And all for a season of holiday traditions. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

THE TOP 5

1. Christmas Romance.
2. Snowmen.
3. Minglewood Cinnamon Whiskey.
4. Holiday Parties.
5. Classic Christmas Songs.

WIP (Work In Progress):

Turned in short story for the University of Akron Regional Writers Contest. Woohoo!

TAGS…Because Everything Has A Price© on hold for now until complete the edit changes for Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation©. Bummed! But will resume TAGS©. writing before February 2020.

QUERYING:

Finally heard back from the one publisher after they asked for more time to review it. They said not quite the right fit for them, but if I made some edits with the suggestions they made as in strengthening the tone of the MC and going a little deeper to get rid of the emotional distance they’d like me to send it back to them June 1st. Plus they want anything else I’ve written.

Woohoo! Not too difficult to do. Already working on it and like the changes. Just wish the finger tappers typed faster.

Ha! Ha! Ha!

THE CRAFT

This month’s writing tip…

Find the type of book you like to read and go from there. Don’t copy their style but come up with your own.

THE HOLIDAYS:

Christmas time and New Year’s Eve. Wow! Double whammie! Have you done your shopping yet? Most gifts purchased, but do need to shop for stocking stuffers…and maybe run by the liquor store for some bubbly. Found some great suggestions for gifts for writing friends looking on the internet and even found a few bottles of wine with writing themes. Love it!

MY BOOKSHELF:

1. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding.
2. This Side of Hell by Bob Adamov.
3. Cast Iron by Marilyn Todd.

ALL-TIME FAVORITES:

SEASON: Autumn!

SPORTS TEAM: The OSU Buckeyes (13 – 0) Big Ten Champs! Ranked #2, playing #3 Clemson December 28th in Fiesta Bowl. Go Buckeyes!

COLOR: Dark Brown

CAUSE: The Seeing Eye www.theseeingeye.org

SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

FOOD: Salads and Apples

HOT DRINK: Pumpkin Spice Latte with or without Rum, preferably with!

FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet…both!

DID YOU KNOW…

Jingle Bells…

• Centuries ago, sleigh owners fastened bells to horses to signal the approach of someone important or to warn pedestrians of an approaching vehicle.
• Sleighs could not stop quickly enough so they needed a warning sound.
• William Barton opened the first US sleigh bell company in East Hampton, Connecticut in 1810.
• Gemini 6 astronauts played jingle bells and a harmonica in 1965 making them one of the first instruments ever played in space.
• The song Jingle Bells composed in 1857 written by James Lord Pierpont and intended to be a Thanksgiving song is still one of the most popular Christmas songs today.

PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH…

• Impeachment.
• Christmas without snow.
• Gaining weight.
• Work slowdown.

THEY SAID…

This month’s quote is by J.B. Priestley

“the first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world, and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment, where is it to be found?”

HOMETOWN UPDATE:

• Donate aluminum cans at city hall and Buehler’s Milltown. All proceeds benefit NE Ohio ACB.
• Wooster City Schools go on Winter break December 23rd to January 3rd and return to school January 6th, 2020.
• The cold season lasts for 23.1 months from December 2nd to March 5th with an average high temperature below 44 degrees Fahrenheit.

CHECK THIS OUT…

For making your holiday festivities fun try these cocktails

• Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a literary twist
• Gone with the Gin: Cocktails with a Hollywood Twist
• Are You There God? It’s Me, Margarita: More Cocktails with a Literary Twist

GOOSING OFF>…

Goosie & Gander have had many outfit changes

• Poinseta

• Snowman
• Snowflake coat
• Gift package
• Christmas tree
• Reindeer
• Santa
• Elf

I think their favorite is the Poinseta dress and Snowman. Check out my twitter link below for pics.

FIND ME…

Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

Facebook: Author Chrissy Hartmann https://www.facebook.com/pg/USAWriter355/ads/?ref=page_internal

Prickle Forrest Creations December 2019

PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

November 2019 (Posted 11/16/2019)

By Chrissy Hartmann

Autumn hours have fallen back. The colors decorating the skyline are still bountiful in their representation of the season.

— Reds, golds, oranges, and browns —

Thanksgiving comes late this year. Even with the shorter days go enjoy traipsing through an apple orchard, hiding in a corn maze, and scouring a pumpkin patch for that last remaining hidden gourd.

After the long day, don’t forget to enjoy the chilly maple smokey scented air while sitting on the front porch sipping on hot cinnamon apple cider and reading a favorite book as the local favorite football team plays on the Wi-Fi. Remember this is a holiday of thanksgiving, be thankful for the beauty it brings because in only a few days the snow will fall, the temperatures will drop, and Jack Frost will have iced a path for Santa and his reindeer. Ho-Ho-Ho!

“Happy Thanksgiving!”

THE TOP 5

1. Autumn colors.
2. Hoody’s and kick ass boots.
3. Pumpkin spice.
4. Cozy fires.
5. Football.

WIP (Work In Progress):

Doing #NaNoWriMo this month. So far at 21,000+ words. Hopeful to type 50K by months end. Fingers crossed and The Muses handcuffed to the desk. Must say the stash of Oreos is getting a little low. Will need to send for more soon. Hopefully Oreos will restock the pumpkin flavor for the holiday. Yummy!

QUERYING:

Still waiting to hear back from the one publisher who requested more time to discuss  Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation©.

The WNG members are tossing around the idea of starting up a publishing company. Definitely peaks some interest.  Must do some research on the matter. Ugh!

THE CRAFT

This month’s writing tip is by …

Jane Friedman

Exposition should serve the scene, not the other way around.

www.janefriedman.com

THE HOLIDAYS:

Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away. Celebrating this year with the Hartmann’s. Traditional food served. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, stuffed mushrooms, pumpkin roll, veggie tray, pumpkin pie, corn, green bean casserole, and some homemade wine.

This will be a day of spoiling the taste buds. Oh boy!

Don’t plan to go out for the early bird Black Friday shopping. Too dangerous. Why risk losing life or limb to get one of two possible sale items the stores keep stocked. Crazy nuts! Plus it’s still Thanksgiving a wonderful time to spend with the family…and yes even the ones that drive you bonkers.

MY BOOKSHELF:

1. Twist of Fate (Heartbreaker Bay Series) by Jill Shalvis
2. Island of Last Resorts by Mary Ellis
3. Cast Iron by Marilyn Todd
4. Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

ALL-TIME FAVORITES:

SEASON: Autumn!

SPORTS TEAM: OSU Buckeyes (10-0 Woohoo! Go Buckeyes!)

COLOR: Dark Brown

CAUSE: The Seeing Eye www.theseeingeye.org

SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

FOOD: Pumpkin Covered Pretzels…OMG! Fabulous!

HOT DRINK: Pumpkin Spice Latte with or without Rum

FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet, both together.

DID YOU KNOW…

The first presidential turkey pardon  may have been granted by  President Lincoln  in 1865.

https://www.whitehousehistory.org/pardoning-the-thanksgiving-turkey

PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH..

• Working for a company and waiting to be notified each day if there is work.
• Sales clerks who steal from children by “just rounding up the total price.”
• People who decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving.
• Athletes not being punished for their instigation of an on field fight.

THEY SAID…

This month’s quote..

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosaic of them all.” – Stanley Horowitz

HOMETOWN UPDATE:

• Fall leaf pickup has started. Woohoo!
• Wooster YMCA Turkey Trot — November 24th. — On your marks, get set, go!
• Akron University Regional Writers Contest deadline is Dec 8, 2019. Good Luck!

CHECK THIS OUT:

Want to learn deep point of view? Then Lisa Hall-Wilson’s blogs is where you want to look.

https://lisahallwilson.com/

GOOSING OFF>…

Goosie & Gander celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday — Sort of.

Goosie is having fun in her autumn dresses while Gander thinks it’s all for the birds. He’s such a turkey!

Still haven’t worked out the bugs for posting pics  of the Geese but they are on Twitter …see below.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

FIND ME ON…

Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

Facebook: Author Chrissy Hartmann https://www.facebook.com/pg/USAWriter355/ads/?ref=page_internal