Shelly Arkon's Blog
January 18, 2014
Slow Going
I was hoping to have Killer Stilettos perfected and published by December 2013. But last year as a lot of you know, I had my challenges.
January 2013 began with the knowledge that my husband needed surgery. And by February we learned he had cancer and had to go through chemo which lasted until around June.
Two weeks hadn't gone by and daughter number 4's drug problem had resurfaced. By August, DCF got involved, and my grand-baby was living with us again, and I filed for custody. It all got messy. Two separate divisions of DCF didn't agree on the outcome of my grand-baby, and before I could even get a court date, the grand-baby went back. Funny, I finally got a court date around December 17th.
But to date, baby is good. The daughter is following through with her outpatient rehab.
But then 2 weeks before Christmas, hubby's doctor found polyps in his voice box and mine found a lump in my neck. Hubby had surgery and a shot of chemo in his larynx a week before Christmas. I had an ultrasound of the thyroid.
Come to find out, my lump was neither a node, a goiter, or cancer. Thank God! The exam found a very swollen lymph node. So the doctor concluded a flare up of my chronic Epstein Barr. She even found more swollen lymph nodes throughout my body to conclude what she thought. So now I battle the fatigue that comes with that.
Not to mention, my poor 93 year old grandmother has had a bad fall, a bleeding ulcer, her MerSa came back, went through seven blood transfusions, and survived 2 heart attacks before Christmas.
And through all of these life events, I've managed to keep my Salon job, publish 2 short stories, draft 3 other novels, and rewrite Killer Stilettos 32 times--this is the next book in the Lila's Journey Series.
Yup. You did in fact read 32 times. But I also loose my focus when life throws constant curve balls at me. Because sometimes one has to stop what they're doing to deal with stuff.
But soon and very soon, I shall have it perfected.
So before I go, I'm sharing a favorite line from Killer Stilettos. It's a Gram line. When I was reading through it last night, it made me chuckle. It's so her to say:
“I’m not God. I’m just a ghost trying to help her granddaughter.” She spread her arms out wide, palms up.
Do you have to stop writing for weeks sometimes when life throws a doozy at you?
Hope your Monday is a great one. I'm a The Salon on my iPhone. It's quiet for now.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
January 2013 began with the knowledge that my husband needed surgery. And by February we learned he had cancer and had to go through chemo which lasted until around June.
Two weeks hadn't gone by and daughter number 4's drug problem had resurfaced. By August, DCF got involved, and my grand-baby was living with us again, and I filed for custody. It all got messy. Two separate divisions of DCF didn't agree on the outcome of my grand-baby, and before I could even get a court date, the grand-baby went back. Funny, I finally got a court date around December 17th.
But to date, baby is good. The daughter is following through with her outpatient rehab.
But then 2 weeks before Christmas, hubby's doctor found polyps in his voice box and mine found a lump in my neck. Hubby had surgery and a shot of chemo in his larynx a week before Christmas. I had an ultrasound of the thyroid.
Come to find out, my lump was neither a node, a goiter, or cancer. Thank God! The exam found a very swollen lymph node. So the doctor concluded a flare up of my chronic Epstein Barr. She even found more swollen lymph nodes throughout my body to conclude what she thought. So now I battle the fatigue that comes with that.
Not to mention, my poor 93 year old grandmother has had a bad fall, a bleeding ulcer, her MerSa came back, went through seven blood transfusions, and survived 2 heart attacks before Christmas.
And through all of these life events, I've managed to keep my Salon job, publish 2 short stories, draft 3 other novels, and rewrite Killer Stilettos 32 times--this is the next book in the Lila's Journey Series.
Yup. You did in fact read 32 times. But I also loose my focus when life throws constant curve balls at me. Because sometimes one has to stop what they're doing to deal with stuff.
But soon and very soon, I shall have it perfected.
So before I go, I'm sharing a favorite line from Killer Stilettos. It's a Gram line. When I was reading through it last night, it made me chuckle. It's so her to say:
“I’m not God. I’m just a ghost trying to help her granddaughter.” She spread her arms out wide, palms up.
Do you have to stop writing for weeks sometimes when life throws a doozy at you?
Hope your Monday is a great one. I'm a The Salon on my iPhone. It's quiet for now.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
November 25, 2013
Stove Top Stuffing
“Next year, I’m taking everyone out for Thanksgiving. Your dinner was terrible again!” Yep. That’s what the Sweetman said about last year’s Thanksgiving dinner.
You see, I make everything from scratch. From the pies to the stuffing. Why? Well, because I love to cook for one. And two, I’m one of those foodies who refuses to eat anything processed. This includes the turkey. While I want an antibiotic, cruelty, and hormone free one, Sweetman wants a Butterball.
I should know better since he loves to eat cold Progresso soup right from the can. Not to mention, he delights in Tortino Pizza Rolls and fixes himself bowls of Cocoa Crispies for a late night snack after he’s indulged in several handfuls of Twizzlers, Snickers, pretzels, and chips. And the later mind you is before and after dinner.
“I just can’t understand why I’m gaining weight,”he says.
Hmmf! Gee, I wonder.
This year Sweetman handed me a hundred dollars to buy what I needed to make Thanksgiving dinner. Guess he forgot what he said after the last one. Anyway, he gave me these instructions, “I want corn on the cob. Get a Butterball turkey. Some couscous. And get Stove Top Stuffing.”
“Why Stove Top?” I ask.
He says, “I don’t like your stuffing.”
“But its from scratch. What’s wrong with it? Not enough chemicals for you?”
Obviously, he has no clue that there are over fifteen ingredients in this crap. Among them is fructose corn syrup, BHA, BHT (doesn’t this cause cancer?), and propyl gallate-another name for anti-freeze. The stuff sounds like its meant for a deadly weapon of mass destruction. Not to mention, there’s three hundred ninety milligrams of sodium in it. After reading what I just wrote, this stuff may explode his already expanding tummy.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. And no matter how you prepare your dinner. Prepare it with lots of love.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Gobble Tov
You see, I make everything from scratch. From the pies to the stuffing. Why? Well, because I love to cook for one. And two, I’m one of those foodies who refuses to eat anything processed. This includes the turkey. While I want an antibiotic, cruelty, and hormone free one, Sweetman wants a Butterball.
I should know better since he loves to eat cold Progresso soup right from the can. Not to mention, he delights in Tortino Pizza Rolls and fixes himself bowls of Cocoa Crispies for a late night snack after he’s indulged in several handfuls of Twizzlers, Snickers, pretzels, and chips. And the later mind you is before and after dinner.
“I just can’t understand why I’m gaining weight,”he says.
Hmmf! Gee, I wonder.
This year Sweetman handed me a hundred dollars to buy what I needed to make Thanksgiving dinner. Guess he forgot what he said after the last one. Anyway, he gave me these instructions, “I want corn on the cob. Get a Butterball turkey. Some couscous. And get Stove Top Stuffing.”
“Why Stove Top?” I ask.
He says, “I don’t like your stuffing.”
“But its from scratch. What’s wrong with it? Not enough chemicals for you?”
Obviously, he has no clue that there are over fifteen ingredients in this crap. Among them is fructose corn syrup, BHA, BHT (doesn’t this cause cancer?), and propyl gallate-another name for anti-freeze. The stuff sounds like its meant for a deadly weapon of mass destruction. Not to mention, there’s three hundred ninety milligrams of sodium in it. After reading what I just wrote, this stuff may explode his already expanding tummy.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. And no matter how you prepare your dinner. Prepare it with lots of love.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Gobble Tov
November 11, 2013
Saturated
Hello, dears. Gram here today. My poor creator has been extremely busy today with the cleaning, grocery shopping, and errands. She doesn’t always listen to me about not cramming in too much on her off days from The Salon. I do hope I get her notes down right that she left me.
Strange. Don’t you think? You know, that she would have me fill in as a secretary while she attends to such things. I’m no writer whatsoever. But here goes…
Are any of you Indie writer’s out there feeling the market is SATURATED with books? Every cyber corner my creator seems to turn, is birthing a new one. She's beginning to believe there are polygons on fertility drugs out there multiplying times three.
The Information Age in which we live is characterized by saturation. We are inundated from all sides, every moment of everyday by more information than we can now process. Author Phil Elmore. You can find his full article at: http://mobile.wnd.com/2009/04/96515/
Of course, she’s read several books on marketing and whatnot. I can’t tell you how many articles she’s scoured through on the web. Like, 10 Winning Marketing Strategies For Your Self-Published Book, by Author Bidnotto. You can find his article at: http://www.bidinotto.com/2013/03/10-w...
The both of us are wondering if there is more to it than determination and luck. Secondhand Shoes seems to drift in an ocean out there. Every now and then someone throws it a lifesaver.
Personally, I’ve been prodding her to write more. It clears the poo out of anyone’s head and gets you to focus. She does listen to me about that. Good thing, too. Wish my grand daughter, Lila, would listen. But if anyone has an eighteen year old at home,you know how that goes.
As for my creator’s titles, here they are:
Killer Stilettos, Book II in the Lila's Journey Series – Paranormal (we’re working on those rewrites together)
Combat Boots-3rd book Lila's Journey Series (all we have are some ideas jotted down)
White Trash and Pill Heads- Family drama/suspense (she’s on her fifth draft with this one)
Amuck in Time- cozy sci-fi (ideas jotted down)
The House on Mendocino Street-paranormal (first draft almost completed)
The Day It Happened-apocalyptic/thriller/suspense (two chapters drafted)
Well, dears. That’s all she wrote. I do hope you have a lovely, day, evening, and week.
Gram
Anyone can find Gram in Secondhand Shoes. She rocks!
Secondhand Shoes
Strange. Don’t you think? You know, that she would have me fill in as a secretary while she attends to such things. I’m no writer whatsoever. But here goes…
Are any of you Indie writer’s out there feeling the market is SATURATED with books? Every cyber corner my creator seems to turn, is birthing a new one. She's beginning to believe there are polygons on fertility drugs out there multiplying times three.
The Information Age in which we live is characterized by saturation. We are inundated from all sides, every moment of everyday by more information than we can now process. Author Phil Elmore. You can find his full article at: http://mobile.wnd.com/2009/04/96515/
Of course, she’s read several books on marketing and whatnot. I can’t tell you how many articles she’s scoured through on the web. Like, 10 Winning Marketing Strategies For Your Self-Published Book, by Author Bidnotto. You can find his article at: http://www.bidinotto.com/2013/03/10-w...
The both of us are wondering if there is more to it than determination and luck. Secondhand Shoes seems to drift in an ocean out there. Every now and then someone throws it a lifesaver.
Personally, I’ve been prodding her to write more. It clears the poo out of anyone’s head and gets you to focus. She does listen to me about that. Good thing, too. Wish my grand daughter, Lila, would listen. But if anyone has an eighteen year old at home,you know how that goes.
As for my creator’s titles, here they are:
Killer Stilettos, Book II in the Lila's Journey Series – Paranormal (we’re working on those rewrites together)
Combat Boots-3rd book Lila's Journey Series (all we have are some ideas jotted down)
White Trash and Pill Heads- Family drama/suspense (she’s on her fifth draft with this one)
Amuck in Time- cozy sci-fi (ideas jotted down)
The House on Mendocino Street-paranormal (first draft almost completed)
The Day It Happened-apocalyptic/thriller/suspense (two chapters drafted)
Well, dears. That’s all she wrote. I do hope you have a lovely, day, evening, and week.
Gram
Anyone can find Gram in Secondhand Shoes. She rocks!
Secondhand Shoes
October 16, 2013
Bullies and Bad Bosses
Today, is Thank Your Wonderful Boss Day-something like that. Its been all over the news this morning, and so has the girl who committed suicide because of two completely insensitive girls-bullies who have taken that word to a whole new level. Two unremorseful souls. This reminds me that its Something-Something-National-About-Bullies-Month.
In my opinion,we should have a public hanging for bullies for a month and call it, It Sucks to be a Bully this Month. As for Thank Your Wonderful Boss Day, there are more terrible ones than good. At least that’s my experience. I can personally count on one hand how many fantabulous bosses I’ve had and it doesn’t even reach a total five.
Anyway, my really big bully issues began in high school. Honestly, I have no clue why the mean-herd-mentality hit the group of boys and girls I had to share classrooms, hallways, and a cafeteria with for nine months out of the year for four long horrid years.
What was their purpose to stand in parallel rows in the school hallway like someone was going to pop some rad Soul Train move toward the next class? Well … actually … they were waiting for me. I was the star of those moves. All I wanted to do was get to the next period.
Each kid would push up their nose and snort as I walked down their Aisle of Torment, amongst other things their sick adolescent minds could think of -which brings me to the day of gym class. While in the shower, the girls- not all, only the bullies- decided to take my school uniform and shoes. They put them in the toilet and took turns urinating and defecating on them. Talk about humiliation. Wrapped in a towel, I sat for four hours in the girl’s locker room waiting for my mom to come with another outfit and shoes.
So when I hear someone killed themselves over a group of insensitive morons. It leaves me wishing for a It Sucks to Be a Bully Month. Since a public hanging is probably out of the question, why not post their faces and the cruel things they’ve done to another human being for the entire world to see like they do sex offenders and pedophiles? Maybe they would think twice about what they post on social networks about someone else. PLEASE NOTE: I remember yours faces and names. I’ve never forgotten and probably never will. Wonder if you people are in positions to bully others in the work place. It wouldn’t surprise me.
This brings me to my next topic: Bad Bosses. They were probably your high school bullies. I say this because they have no problem being insensitive to others. PLEASE NOTE: I know this last statement isn’t true of ALL bosses. So I don’t mean all. But to be honest, I’ve had more bad ones than good.
Over the years, I’ve been threatened, insulted, and lied about while the owners of these certain establishments turned their heads. All aspects of bullying really needs to stop. We’re all here to go through a journey. Life is tough enough without a bunch of monstrous people bashing others. It’s wrong even if their in a superior position.
In The Partners’ Progeny, Monica Bowman is the new girl at a lawfirm and seems to withstand attacks from Victoria Sheek, her supervisor and the daughter to one of the partners, until…. well, check it out on Amazon. It’s a short read at 99 cents, close to 6000 words with five 5 star reviews.
The Partners' Progeny
Ever been bullied?
Hugs and chocolate, all,
Shelly
In my opinion,we should have a public hanging for bullies for a month and call it, It Sucks to be a Bully this Month. As for Thank Your Wonderful Boss Day, there are more terrible ones than good. At least that’s my experience. I can personally count on one hand how many fantabulous bosses I’ve had and it doesn’t even reach a total five.
Anyway, my really big bully issues began in high school. Honestly, I have no clue why the mean-herd-mentality hit the group of boys and girls I had to share classrooms, hallways, and a cafeteria with for nine months out of the year for four long horrid years.
What was their purpose to stand in parallel rows in the school hallway like someone was going to pop some rad Soul Train move toward the next class? Well … actually … they were waiting for me. I was the star of those moves. All I wanted to do was get to the next period.
Each kid would push up their nose and snort as I walked down their Aisle of Torment, amongst other things their sick adolescent minds could think of -which brings me to the day of gym class. While in the shower, the girls- not all, only the bullies- decided to take my school uniform and shoes. They put them in the toilet and took turns urinating and defecating on them. Talk about humiliation. Wrapped in a towel, I sat for four hours in the girl’s locker room waiting for my mom to come with another outfit and shoes.
So when I hear someone killed themselves over a group of insensitive morons. It leaves me wishing for a It Sucks to Be a Bully Month. Since a public hanging is probably out of the question, why not post their faces and the cruel things they’ve done to another human being for the entire world to see like they do sex offenders and pedophiles? Maybe they would think twice about what they post on social networks about someone else. PLEASE NOTE: I remember yours faces and names. I’ve never forgotten and probably never will. Wonder if you people are in positions to bully others in the work place. It wouldn’t surprise me.
This brings me to my next topic: Bad Bosses. They were probably your high school bullies. I say this because they have no problem being insensitive to others. PLEASE NOTE: I know this last statement isn’t true of ALL bosses. So I don’t mean all. But to be honest, I’ve had more bad ones than good.
Over the years, I’ve been threatened, insulted, and lied about while the owners of these certain establishments turned their heads. All aspects of bullying really needs to stop. We’re all here to go through a journey. Life is tough enough without a bunch of monstrous people bashing others. It’s wrong even if their in a superior position.
In The Partners’ Progeny, Monica Bowman is the new girl at a lawfirm and seems to withstand attacks from Victoria Sheek, her supervisor and the daughter to one of the partners, until…. well, check it out on Amazon. It’s a short read at 99 cents, close to 6000 words with five 5 star reviews.
The Partners' Progeny
Ever been bullied?
Hugs and chocolate, all,
Shelly
October 12, 2013
We Create Our Own Demons
We create our own demons. Ironman 3, Robert Downey, Jr.
This quote got to me. Not to mention, the movie itself did, too. Ironman, 3. It didn’t help that I’ve been doing a lot of self reflection about … well … my life in general. The past. The present. The future.
What gets me about my life … is that it seems that certain scenes play over from the past but with a different flavor, and sometimes on steroids. Decisions I made thirty years ago … like marrying a drug addict-but I had no clue at the time. But I did make three decisions to have daughters with him when I knew what he was, hoping for the best, of course … that some how life would become magically delicious. But it never did.
Oh and then, I married again. The bags under hubby number 2 eyes foretold tale tell signs of an alcoholic. I should have listened to my little voice on that one. But of course, I ignored it. Six years and two more daughters later, he left us in the middle of the night so he could have years of fun without us.
My do we create our own demons. Never in my life did I ever expect any of my daughters to follow in either of their fathers’ footsteps. Nor did I ever think any of my grandbabies would ever be in peril. And if they were, never did I ever think for one second that my hands would be tied.
Anyway, I really suggest y’ll watch the movie Ironman 3. It’s action packed and full of meaningful lines that will make you think.
Hugs and chocolate, all,
Shelly
This quote got to me. Not to mention, the movie itself did, too. Ironman, 3. It didn’t help that I’ve been doing a lot of self reflection about … well … my life in general. The past. The present. The future.
What gets me about my life … is that it seems that certain scenes play over from the past but with a different flavor, and sometimes on steroids. Decisions I made thirty years ago … like marrying a drug addict-but I had no clue at the time. But I did make three decisions to have daughters with him when I knew what he was, hoping for the best, of course … that some how life would become magically delicious. But it never did.
Oh and then, I married again. The bags under hubby number 2 eyes foretold tale tell signs of an alcoholic. I should have listened to my little voice on that one. But of course, I ignored it. Six years and two more daughters later, he left us in the middle of the night so he could have years of fun without us.
My do we create our own demons. Never in my life did I ever expect any of my daughters to follow in either of their fathers’ footsteps. Nor did I ever think any of my grandbabies would ever be in peril. And if they were, never did I ever think for one second that my hands would be tied.
Anyway, I really suggest y’ll watch the movie Ironman 3. It’s action packed and full of meaningful lines that will make you think.
Hugs and chocolate, all,
Shelly
August 9, 2013
Twister and Other Earthly Devastations
“Get over here!” mom screamed from the pit of her stomach. Her arms flailed from underneath the kitchen table, while my little sister sobbed hysterically, and my brother rocked in a corner.
I wanted to obey, but I had never seen a twister before. Our small mobile home sounded as if a million tuna cans were being shot out of a ga-zillion cannons every second toward us. The sky outside the sliding doors was a watery grey- green color. Wind had picked up everything swirling it round and round into a funnel. I had never seen anything like it in all my nine years of life.
As suddenly as it had started, it had stopped. Our trailer went unscathed, but the homes around us had either been rolled or tossed into the near-by cow pasture. Not to mention, several dead cows littered the mobile home park.
For some reason, God protected us that day. I really have no clue why either. But unfortunately, a lot of people don’t get spared the grief of losing everything.
Lately, it seems every time I turn on the television there’s a flood or a fire ravaging peoples’ homes somewhere in America. The devastation seems to be happening everywhere.
Right after Moore, Oklahoma was hit hard by a tornado, William Kendall, Norma Beishir, and myself put together Authors for Oklahoma. We put together a book giveaway for donations to The American Red Cross.
Many new and Indie authors donated their books for this cause. There is a plethora of genres: mysteries, erotica, and paranormal to name a few. We even have some children and mommy books.
Just copy and paste the following link into your browser: http://wmdgroup.wordpress.com/2013/08...
And also, please pass this info to your friends and family.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
I wanted to obey, but I had never seen a twister before. Our small mobile home sounded as if a million tuna cans were being shot out of a ga-zillion cannons every second toward us. The sky outside the sliding doors was a watery grey- green color. Wind had picked up everything swirling it round and round into a funnel. I had never seen anything like it in all my nine years of life.
As suddenly as it had started, it had stopped. Our trailer went unscathed, but the homes around us had either been rolled or tossed into the near-by cow pasture. Not to mention, several dead cows littered the mobile home park.
For some reason, God protected us that day. I really have no clue why either. But unfortunately, a lot of people don’t get spared the grief of losing everything.
Lately, it seems every time I turn on the television there’s a flood or a fire ravaging peoples’ homes somewhere in America. The devastation seems to be happening everywhere.
Right after Moore, Oklahoma was hit hard by a tornado, William Kendall, Norma Beishir, and myself put together Authors for Oklahoma. We put together a book giveaway for donations to The American Red Cross.
Many new and Indie authors donated their books for this cause. There is a plethora of genres: mysteries, erotica, and paranormal to name a few. We even have some children and mommy books.
Just copy and paste the following link into your browser: http://wmdgroup.wordpress.com/2013/08...
And also, please pass this info to your friends and family.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
July 9, 2013
Things I Miss and Irk Me
As many of you know, Sweetman went through a bout of cancer and chemo. Thankfully, he has finished his chemo. His hair and belly are now growing back. But when we first found out about what we were going to have to go through, I gave up what I thought would be temporary, my bi-weekly critique group.
Sadly, two of the writers were stressed out with some of their own personal curve balls life bombarded them with. One moved away. The other doesn’t know if she’ll ever write again. We no longer meet.
I miss them terribly. We were together for five years. Each gal had something great to offer to our WIPs. One had awesome grammar and punctuation skills, while one would tear your MS apart and analyze it. Two of them were great for spotting overuse of words or even action tags. And one was great at finding symbolism in your stories and how to make them connect.
I considered them my friends. But only one keeps in touch with me. It really makes me sad. To be honest, I feel lost without them. All writers, Indies, and traditionally published need someone else to bounce their stuff off of. There’s no real way around it. You can’t cheat when you write. It’s a tedious path to get it right.
So I could really use a couple of critique partners who are willing to read 40 pages a month of my current WIP, tear it apart, and I’d be glad to the same in kind.
Anyone interested? If so, let me know in the comment box.
As to what irks me, well, Facebook right now. I’m in what’s called what other writers have referred to as Facebook Jail. I can’t PROMOTE myself or anyone.
How did this happen, you ask. Well, it started with a Like-a-thon. I like authors. They like me. And of course, I can’t forget all the promoting I continually do for other authors. I’m constantly sharing their books and blogs. So I got cited as a SPAMBOT.
So yeah, I’m really blue over not having my critters anymore and being known as a SPAMBOT.
Hope everyone else is well.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Sadly, two of the writers were stressed out with some of their own personal curve balls life bombarded them with. One moved away. The other doesn’t know if she’ll ever write again. We no longer meet.
I miss them terribly. We were together for five years. Each gal had something great to offer to our WIPs. One had awesome grammar and punctuation skills, while one would tear your MS apart and analyze it. Two of them were great for spotting overuse of words or even action tags. And one was great at finding symbolism in your stories and how to make them connect.
I considered them my friends. But only one keeps in touch with me. It really makes me sad. To be honest, I feel lost without them. All writers, Indies, and traditionally published need someone else to bounce their stuff off of. There’s no real way around it. You can’t cheat when you write. It’s a tedious path to get it right.
So I could really use a couple of critique partners who are willing to read 40 pages a month of my current WIP, tear it apart, and I’d be glad to the same in kind.
Anyone interested? If so, let me know in the comment box.
As to what irks me, well, Facebook right now. I’m in what’s called what other writers have referred to as Facebook Jail. I can’t PROMOTE myself or anyone.
How did this happen, you ask. Well, it started with a Like-a-thon. I like authors. They like me. And of course, I can’t forget all the promoting I continually do for other authors. I’m constantly sharing their books and blogs. So I got cited as a SPAMBOT.
So yeah, I’m really blue over not having my critters anymore and being known as a SPAMBOT.
Hope everyone else is well.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
