Yes, I know it has been awhile.

Hi.

Within this time period, I have not been working on much, as I was dealing with death.  However, it became apparent to me that writing can and always will be, cathartic.  So, like a big strangle to the heart muscle -

The first thing I would like to talk about is the entity called Textnovel .  I was first asked to take part of this as a way to get more people to a newby site, by the founder Stan Soper.  He also encouraged me to take part in their $1,000.00 prize. This sounds like a load of shit, because really … who is going to pay us idiot writers a whole grand just for our silly ideas?   I, however, being the optimist that I am, took part in their first contest and sadly, lost.  You can find my entry here.

The basics on the contest is that you harangue everyone you know to “vote” for you on the site (voting is basically clicking a little ‘thumbs up’ icon at the top of the story page.  You do have to sign up at the site to do this.  However, I pretty much never get e-mails from Textnovel, so don’t worry about Spam.  Then the stories with the largest amounts of ‘thumbs up’ points goes to a Editorial Advisory Board, who vote on their favorite story and whoever gets the most votes, wins.  Pretty simple.

As many of you may know, I have a love/hate relationship with this site for many reasons, but have decided to write their again, because – why not?  Even if you don’t win a damn thing … you get your work out there to a new audience!

I can guarantee you that this is 100% legit and you DO get a grand (the winner actually put up a screen shot on her Facebook of the check, as no one believed her.  I have spoken with her at length, and she is a good sort, and I am very happy for her for winning.)  You also get ol’ Stan to work as your “agent” of some kind (if he wants to) for a whole year.  As far as I can tell, the winner has had a lot of offers from her book.

As you can see from the site, these are Cell Phone Novels.  Which generally means people can download your story and read it on their cell phone or whatever mobile device they have.  Pretty wicked (though I never used this option, as my cell phone is an old grand daddy that would not be able to handle this.)  However, you are completely open to writing a ‘normal sized’ novel as well, as Stan is also looking for ‘real’ book length literature.

Recently, as I said, I realized that writing could be the most cathartic thing for me in this situation.  So, I started a new novel (hopefully MUCH better than my original, which ended up as a crazy blood bath).  My new story is

To Those Of You Who Have Never Been Afraid .

I am only on chapter four, so be patient!  I am working up to some good stuff about ol’ Connie and David!  Anyway, if any of you out there were ever considering taking your writing “further,” sign up for Textnovel.  It is a really easy way to get your work out there and possibly win a grand!  Or, if you do not want to do that, vote for my story!  I only have a couple of months left to finish this thing, so any help is definitely LOVED.

Be sure to leave me a comment if you start up your own novel there, so I can read it and give it a thumbs up as well!

Much love,

H.

This does not have anything to do with writing, but please read on-

As many of you may or may not know, on October 18, 2008, I got married.

I got married to a really great guy who I had dated for two years, who I lived with (pretty much that entire time period, what can I say – we really really liked each other immediately!), and who I love more than anything else on this planet.

He proposed on December 5th, 2008.  I broke the combination on the gun safe (we aren’t too normal, I never said we were normal!) and I found my ring inside and I hugged him and I thought, “well, this is it!”  I began planning, got some bridesmaids, got a place to get married, got all that jazz and flowers.

I have never been a person who lives by today’s standards.  I am a feminist, a full-time writer, a boot polishing, push-up bra wearing, bitch.  I’m probably going to ask you if you have any wine.  I am probably going to drink all of your wine and create a ruckus.  I am probably going to jump in your pool fully clothed.  I am probably going to wear a yellow bikini and carry a pistol.

I never had this “princess wedding” thing daydream going on in my head since I was seven years old, like I have heard a lot of ladies do.  But, I wanted to get married.  I wanted to get married, but I didn’t really want to get married until I met my husband.  For all of you happily married people out there, you know what I mean.  You can’t imagine not waking up all wrapped around them.  You are planning on being with them anyway, forever, and you have it worked out in your head that you are two mature adults with two mature lives and you have this love thing figured out as well:

it’s not “OH MY GOD I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOU” (mostly because a lot of days it’s oh my god will you leave me alone already??)  It’s just that you look at them and you see the way their eyes scrunch when they laugh and you can imagine that face as an old man, still scrunching away.  You love the way they delight you with boring things: a good movie night, a kiss hello, a wrapped in your arms while you’re doing the dishes and then helping you finish.  It’s a general sense of contentedness and a huge sigh when you think about the future. It is now not “maybe” but “certainly, yes.”

So, I got married.  Just like that.  Planned for awhile, got everything in order, said the things we needed to say and BAM.  We were married and it’s February and I couldn’t be happier.  However, one thing I realized is that I love love, so nothing angers me more than people who are against it.

Take a look at this .

Please please please sign the letter.  You know what is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen?  My husband’s face.  Because he is my husband and we have decided we want everyone to god damn know we love each other.

Let’s grow up, stop thinking that we are (for some weird reason) OK with a black president, but gay marriage is (for some weird reason) just taking it too far.  Open your hearts a little. Please.  Love.