Journal/Engagement Calendar Alternate creativity

I think I've spoken a little about the journal/engagement calendar that I have and absolutely love, The Sacred Journey, Daily Journal for Your Soul. It is a wonderful size and really lets me play. I only did 2 collages last year and this is one of them. The other has copyrighted art that I manipulated so I don't think you'll see it.

I include texture (the pink thing is a feather, as is the orange spear), and scent...I have a bottom of a candle that still has scent and a soap label, ditto. I am not great at these, but I enjoy them, and they are done bit by bit, so don't eat a lot of writing time.

May you enjoy your creativity today,
Robin

Oscars/RITA

I watched the Oscars and remembered the RITA ceremony at Romance Writers of America's National convention, here in Denver in July 2002. Winning the RITA award was a shining moment for me and my writing buddies and I was VERY proud of all the hard work BY ALL OF US that got me to that stage. I also wanted to prove to my editor and everyone else at Berkley that they were RIGHT in taking a chance with me and HeartMate -- a new direction for them. They could trust me to work for myself and them.

So I'd written a very short speech (about 4 paragraphs), something different than thanks-to-everybody-and-my-cats which had begun to get boring. I'd scrawled my notes on a small ripped out notebook page approximately the day after I was told I finaled. I knew I wouldn't write anything otherwise. At points I thought the beginning was silly and had I qualms, but I decided to go with it anyway.

I started by saying: "Life is good," which is a catch-phrase in HeartMate, so those who'd read it felt in on the joke. I thanked the judges, my editor and Berkley for taking a chance on me, and my Mother. I said now I'd won the RITA, my mother would let me write the biography of her cat: Wilbur the Wonder Cat, Or Eighteen Days Caught in a Garage (PAUSE) a Thrilling Adventure.

Then I said that everyone I needed to thank was on my acknowledgments page (try and remember everyone in the audience --- not me!) and all my friends here could rub the RITA for good luck.

I used the dedication of HeartMate as the end. As I lifted the RITA, I said and I meant it: To All Struggling Writers, Never Quit.

May you have shining moments in your career.
Robin

Timing

Struggling with timing (and later I might add the calendar for the month of Alder)...2 1/2 months ago Saille sent his HeartGift out. 3 weeks since Yule. 3 months (maybe 3 1/2) since Dufleur had her last Passage...father died a year to a year and a half ago. Saille came into his title 4 months ago???

I always mean to keep track of these things at the time I'm writing them and never do. And many times they depend on the events of the previous book, which I always mean to get a copy and note the times on the page (like I did for Guardian and Sorceress) so I can reference, then put it on something I can look at. And don't.

Ggrrr.

I'll work on it until I have to go to kinkos copy the thing double sided and send it out to be received tomorrow....

May all your timing be right on today,
Robin

Each Work Is Different - Copy Edits

Each work is different, and boy can I tell that in the copy edits. I've had problems with plot threads, with adding paranormal mystery elements (Heart Quest), with making sure my research is solid, with refining my worldbuilding rules.

Heart Dance has the worst problems with choreography at this stage than any of my other manuscripts. I obviously wrote too many scenes and didn't tie them together as well as they should have been. People are sitting and do stuff that people sitting wouldn't. Someone leaves and is referenced as still there. Messy. And neither my copy editor nor my editor caught this, so I'm glad that I've been doing so.

Still, at this point, I would have thought it would be a little smoother. But that's the biggest problem of the whole book so far, and I'm VERY pleased because it's such small, fiddly stuff that needs to be fixed.

My mentor was right (you know she calls me at various times of the writing process to reassure me, don't you?). The book is better than I recall. What was the best of all is that BEFORE I started the edits she said that the book was fine and would satisfy my readers. That's the most important thing to me, that I satisfy my readers.

As usual, I find myself smiling at a turn of phrase, but that's pretty much all the emotion that the book pulls out of me. By this time in the game, the emotional content of the story is flat, flat, flat to me and I always pray that it isn't that way to others. Like all authors I feel that if I don't tweak your emotions, I haven't done my job. So, since I need to fret, that's what I will continue to fret over until I see reader reaction.

May you do some wonderfully emotional writing today.
Robin

Copy EditorsII

They gave me a new copy editor, probably due to time constraints. I had an initial spurt of irritation, then decided this was a Very Good Thing. It would give me fresh eyes that didn't know my language and would make me explain where others might get confused. So good.

S/he didn't understand MotherDam. Now that is a word that I've been using from the first, Grandmother, but indicating the Mother's Mother. So when I found her confused note (when I introduced Saille's mother), I went back a couple of times and explained.

Yes, on the whole, a good thing. Haven't made staggering progress, first pages pretty clean, only one "stet" (keep it like it is) used.

May your day go smoothly.
Robin

On Tour -- Blood Secrets

BLOOD SECRETS by Vivi Anna
Silhouette Nocturne

A young human woman is found ritualistically murdered in a downtown Necropolis hotel. It is up to Caine Valorian, a 200-year-old vampire, and his Otherworld Crime Unit to solve the unusual crime, and quickly before the human press can jump onto the story and cause a panic. To add to their already tough case, a new member, Eve Grant, transfers to their lab at the request of the mayor. Not only is she green and eager to impress the boss, but she's human. The first human ever to work in an Otherworld unit. The mayor thought it would be great press especially now with the strange human murder.

Caine has his work cut out for him, especially with his unruly team who don't appreciate any help from a human. Not only is this the toughest case of his career, but he's unusually attracted to the new girl, which can only cause trouble for them all. However, as they sink deeper and deeper into the workings of the case, Caine and Eve become closer and closer. So close that neither of them can see past each other and at the real happenings behind the scenes. The more they poke and prod at the case, the more they realize that something is going on, that this murder is only one step toward a greater purpose. Someone in the Otherworld community is calling on dark forces, in a plot to wipe out the entire human population....

Hmmmm, sounds fascinating.
May your own work fascinate you today.
Robin

Heart Dance Copy Edits

Have arrived. Due in NY by next Tuesday. I anticipate about 24+ hours to do them, read through and fix a motivation thread. I have my mentor's notes, and glancing at the ce's notes I changed Dufleur's eye color somewhere through the book....

So my posts will be brief, probably quotes and little bits of this and that.

May whatever creative outlet you do fulfill you today.
Robin

You Will Use Everything

Trust me, baby, this is true. I'd imagine its true for ALL creative artists, painters, dancers, poets, musicians.

A while back my entire family spent Christmas in Hawaii (Oahu). One of the things I wanted to see was the Buddhist Temple. Since we'd rented a car and the whole trip was to be a Bonding Experience as perceived by my Mother, we all piled in the car and I was mercilessly teased for wanting to visit a TEMPLE of all things (I think this was only our second day there) by my brothers who are typical guys. I think even my Mom (who LOVES churches) had doubts.

But all the teasing stopped when we reached the temple. It remains one of the most beautiful and spiritual places I've ever been and I've never forgotten it. I'm sure we didn't spend as much time there as I wanted, and whenever I think of the place, I want to return.

Well, I was writing Healers of Hope and the twins parents' are currently enjoying a trip to Hawaii...need I say more? Of COURSE the temple made it into the book.

You'll use everything, get used to the idea, nothing will escape.

May your writing surprise you today.
Robin

PEARLS!

Sorceress of Faith WON best SF/Fantasy.

Heart Quest got Honorable Mention for best Futuristic.

I'm flabberghasted and pleased and my eyes are leaking....

May you experience great validation for your writing today.
Robin

A Bad Agent Is Worse Than No Agent

On one of my author's loops we are telling stories about agents again. The above is true, and I have experienced it. I had a bad agent for a couple of years. I would make contacts with editors through contests or conferences and send her the information so she could forward my work. I got little feedback, but I thought she was doing her job. Hindsight tells me she wasn't.

This is what you need from an agent:

1) Enthusiasm for you and your work
2) Knowledge of the genre you're writing in
3) Good negotiator and good communicator

May you forget about the business of publishing today.
Robin

Moon Awakening

An enthralling new romantic tale that pushes the boundaries between love and hate, passion and pain-and man and beast...

When Emily Hamilton's family is ordered to send a woman to the Scottish highlands for marriage to the laird of the Sinclair, Emily volunteers in order to save her younger sister from such a fate. But at her new home, the only friend she finds is the laird's sister-especially after Emily's stubborn streak causes the laird to cancel the marriage. And though her plans have gone awry, she refuses to return home...

Lachlan Balmoral is laird of his clan-and leader of his pack. One of the most feared werewolves prowling the Highlands, he is on the march against the hated Sinclair, who have abducted a Balmoral woman. He kidnaps the sister of the Sinclair laird, planning to marry her off in revenge-but the woman he takes along with her proves to be the greater prize...

For Emily feeds a desire he has never known existed. And though Lachlan would not think of touching his enemy's betrothed, he must know how a mere woman could tame his heart so easily...

EXCERPT:

Ah, shapeshifters. My favorite...
May your writing go well today.
Robin

Physical Tools

I have an inexpensive lamp that is supposed to be full spectrum sunlight. Yesterday the bulb fried and cracked. Lately I've been at my computer -- to work and play -- a lot and suffering eye strain. I decided I wouldn't work in the semi-dark since my lamp was out and waited until there was enough natural light in the office to type well.

Be careful of yourself, and know what tools (like my lamp) you need to work well. A replacement bulb is already on its way.

I was also wondering what I would do if I had no computer. I would still write of course, with pen and paper, but my play habits would change. I'd read more -- though I find that reading can make my thumbs and wrist hurt as much or more than keyboarding -- I'd collage more. I won't say that I'd get out more as it snowed AGAIN last night. We're getting snow every week. Urgh.

So may your physical tools let you write seamlessly today.
Robin

Capitol Hill Critique Group

I went to Capitol Hill Critique Group last night. This group is the main stay of RMFW, the place where anyone who does not have a regular critique group can go. This also is very close to my mentor's home. Anyway, it's been YEARS since I went and the first time I started to make a comment, I was cut off.

Since it's on a workday evening, it is very structured. The writer reads their work and people around the table have 2 minutes to critique. There is no free for all. Defending the work is not allowed (which is a very good rule, nothing can slow the pace down like an author explaining/defending he work -- and since I'm pretty good about not defending and have had horrible experiences with others defending I like the rule). After the work is read, there are several minutes to be able to write extensively if you want. I didn't do as much as others, because I'm still used to giving critique orally.

Anyway everyone had thoughtful comments and also was supportive and said what they liked about the work.

Since there were about 20, only 4 read and they are scheduled. I went so that I could get scheduled which will give me a deadline for my proposal.

Capitol Hill meets 1st through 4th Thursdays with a different moderator the 1st & 3rd and the 2nd and 4th.

May any critique today make you glow with pride.
Robin

Writers -- Do It NOW!

I had a call from my mentor. Since we speak quite often during the week I wasn't too surprised, but since we talked at length on Monday and Tuesday, I thought it was a little unusual. Naturally I asked how she was and she said she was fine but that she had bad news.

I'm sure you all know what feeling I got. I usually use "stomach clenched," or if it's a guy "gut clenched." Actually mine was more "stomach dropped."

One of the long time members of RMFW has died. I knew this woman as a friendly acquaintance, though I don't recall how long it's been since I REALLY talked to her. A couple of years, since she hadn't lived in Colorado for a while, and then we spoke of her health and her life and not her writing.

Like all deaths, it made me think. This lady was an excellent writer, yet never got published. She wrote mostly horror. Her health had been bad, so I don't know how much she submitted in the last few years. Her death made me think how lucky I've been to be published, that I have a writing career even if I'm not too happy with that career at the moment.

What I want to say to you is, if you have something you can submit -- whether your are an unpublished or published writer -- do it NOW. Today. Do it in the memory of a writer who didn't see her dream come true. Please.

May you find the courage to submit TODAY.
Robin

Inspiration

This is a picture that inspired me for Protector of the Flight and Calli's ranch. It's obviously a FARM, but it gave the general feeling of her spread.

I DON'T KNOW WHO TOOK THIS SHOT OR WHETHER IT IS COPYRIGHTED. IF YOU KNOW PLEASE TELL ME AND I WILL EITHER TAKE OFF OR GIVE CREDIT AND LINK...



May inspiration fill you with happiness today.
Robin

Listening to Your Critique Group

Ok, we are on the new blogger now. I didn't change over before because all the archives weren't available and I like that. I don't know if they are still available or not, just got tired of the prodding to change, so I did. Also Knight Agency and Out of the Blogsphere changed and I can talk on those if I want, but not if I'm on the old and they're on the new...

Anyway we're here.

Got my morning (and part of my afternoon word count) done. Was discussing the beginning of Healers of Hope and the more I think about it, the more I believe that I waited too long to get Marian in Sorceress of Faith onto Lladrana. I originally began with when she'd cast her own spell and was almost on her way. Both of my critique groups at the time couldn't handle that beginning, needed some backstory. So I backed up several different ways and finally ended up with what I have.

Now I think I should have just jumped in...So, while in general I say LISTEN to your critique group, there are some times when it's not right. If your gut really, really says this is wrong, don't do it.

In my case, I should have recalled that my critiquers wrote mystery and romance and women's fiction but not fantasy. I had the better eye there. So I'm second guessing myself now. Anyway, I posted the first part of Healers of Hope to my chat group, so I suppose I should tell them it won't appear in the book...

May your writing flow today with no second guessing.
Robin

Real Life -- Quote

My writing is my real life, but as soon as I finished with my morning word count other parts of my real life intruded and I was unable to rise above an emotional shambles and grab hold of the day and shake it into shape. I must admit that the blog went clean out of my head until I was treating myself to steak (which, due to my budget I should not be doing) at a packed local restaurant.

So you get a quote today:

"Reading comes before writing, and drawing before tracing the letters of the alphabet." Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

I firmly believe this. Read and you will learn the rhythms of storytelling. Read the genre you want to write in so you know the expectations.

That's all for now since I'm cold and want to go to bed early (to get the day over with). I walked to the restaurant and was seated at the only empty table (near the door) and after a while picked up a chill. The mist that I walked through to get to the restaurant had turned into a freezing rain on the way back. A very eerie walk back, freezing rain isn't usual, with the icy ruts in the alley interspersed with black, wet, pavement. The lights didn't seem as many or as bright as usual. I had morbid thoughts about how long it would take to find me if I slipped on the ice and fell and hit my head. A bright jacket is not enough in such circumstances.

Yes, I love this winter in Denver....

May you be able to ignore any emotional storms that may affect your writing.
Robin

Point of View

I was recently reading an old romance and the only point of view was the heroine's. I found I liked this book much less than I originally had just because of that fact.

With one point of view, it easier to keep secrets from the reader, and easier to engender misunderstandings. Misunderstandings aren't often used in romances any more, just because in a good relationship one of the couple SHOULD be able to say "I have a problem." And the other should be able to address it, clear it up.

In my Heart books I've kept the point of view to just the hero and heroine, though there has been a large cast. In the Summoning books, I've allowed myself more freedom, they are fantasy with romantic subplot, so in Guardian of Honor I have Alexa's, Bastien's, Thealia's and Luthan's. In Sorceress of Faith I have Marian's, Jacquar's, and Venetria's. In Protector of the Flight I have Calli's, Marrec's and Alexa's.

Though a book can be richer for the varying points of views, it can also take away the intensity and focus.

So far the choices in point of view, for me, have been easy. I was one of those who "head-hopped" in her first manuscript all over the place, and became disciplined by critique group. Since then I haven't thought much about how many points of view I will have but have let it come naturally. I know other authors who have experimented with points of view until they found the right way to tell a story.

May you enjoy whatever point of view you explore today.
Robin

Website Update February

I've updated my website and changed the look of the home page. I'm not quite satisfied, but it is much simpler and easier to use and cleaner, just not as interesting to me.

I need to start working on the Bookshelf page, but I don't have a ftp or html editor so I'll have to ask my webmistress how that works. Again, Bookshelf is quite messy after 5 years.

I still like the gaphics (which I bought so you won't see them anywhere else on the web), and my durius water thing on my banner on my home page, so I will keep those.

But for Bookshelf I like the idea of a graphic of the book (and awards, maybe), all the same size, in reading order, with a brief summary and perhaps a little review underneath.

The other pages had a revamp a couple of years ago and still work for me. About Robin I hate so I never revise it, suppose I should...

May you think more of your writing than of marketing today.
Robin

A NEW BOOK FROM A LADY I VERY MUCH ADMIRE!

ISLAND HEAT by Susan Kearney
Tor Romance February 6, 2007

He dominated with an otherworldly seductive power . . .

What was happening to her? Former screen siren Shara Weston lived on an exotic and private South Pacific island as a recluse . . . until disturbingly masculine and utterly captivating Cade Archer fell out of the sky and into her life. Now, Cade gives her no choice but to follow him down a sensual path that fulfills her every desire.

Cade's on a mission to open a portal between Shara's island volcano and his world. But not everyone wants him to succeed. A powerful enemy has followed Cade to prevent him from sending the resources through the portal that will free his people.

While Cade's mission is as compelling as his dominating sensuality, Shara must find a way to fight him . . . to stop his mission because the fate of every man, woman and child on Earth is at stake.

OH, YUM, VOLCANOES, DIMENSIONAL PORTALS, JUST WHAT I LIKE TO WRITE AND READ!!!

May you enjoy your day.
Robin

My Ebook! Protector of the Flight!

Heard this from a reader last night, which, of course, made me blink because I had no idea. Very good feeling, because I know some people prefer ebooks. I've been trying to go through my old emails and find people who have written me about when my work would be in electronic format, but I pretty much save everything so it's a slow search....

Anyway, I'm smiling big today.

May you bring laughter into your work today.
Robin

Strippers

I saw this and read the blog.... and Jim is right, we don't talk about this, but it definitely is THE bottom line in the publishing world.



May you write without worrying about publishing today (and that is a TRUE blessing).
Robin

PEARLS!!

I am up for two awards this year: Heart Quest in Best Fantasy/Magical (Romance), Sorceress of Faith in Best SF/Fantasy.

I am deeply grateful for these paranormal romance readers. I'm sure the word of mouth these people did made my first book successful enough to launch and continue my career.

There are so many newer authors, and so many good authors, that I can only hope to win this year (actually, as I only hope to win every year), and I'm truly honored to be a finalist.

So thank you, those of you who belong to the list, and those who don't. Thank you.

May your reading and writing bring you much satisfaction today.
Robin

Harry Potter Pub Date -- Noble Snape -- Killing off Characters

All right J.K. Rowling and I will both be published in July. Millions of people await her book. For pub dates, I would say that if she hasn't delivered her manuscript, she will be doing so very shortly. I am sure the process for her isn't like me. They will run her manuscript straight through, probably no editing but copy editing which looks for typos and grammar -- and off it goes through the system.

I got into a discussion with a good friend of mine yesterday at brunch about Snape. I don't like Snape. Snape is MEAN. Why could my friend possibly like Snape. We batted this around for quite some time, and he said that he likes more complex characters, but really, when worse came to worse Snape could rise to the occasion and do the noble thing.

Good point. I still don't like Snape. He is mean. He is unfair. He visits the sins of the father on the child. But I will agree that he can be noble. I guess the expensive delux edition of Harry Potter comes with a sticker "Trust Snape" OR "Snape is a very bad man." I think I'd like one that said "Snape is Mean but he is Noble."
Or something. Do I think he'll do the right thing in Deadly Hollows? Yes. I think he is ultimately on the side of good.

So who do I like the best? It was never Sirius. I'm not sure why. My friend yesterday kept saying James (Harry's father) was mean too, a jerk, and a kind of football bully who picked on geeks (since we are all geeks at breakfast, the fact that we might very well have been picked on by James and Sirius went unsaid). I will take Rowling's explanation of those incidents -- James was 15 and we can all be jerks at 15.

The thing is, both James and Sirius arrived at Hogwarts from privileged families (Harry didn't and Snape didn't recognize this and that makes him INFLEXIBLE too). I've always liked Lupin. Lupin has been kind, fair, and survived horrible circumstances. He's the one I like the best.

We also discussed who would die in the next book, but I won't go into that. I think if Rowling hadn't been as much as a phenomena as she is, she would have had more leeway in killing off one of the main three -- though that would have cost her readers. I don't think she has the option of doing that, and perhaps not the heart. When it comes to killing off characters you like you have to truly believe that They Must Go, and it's harder than you think. I was very sorry about Shade in Heart Thief. I think he had a chance to reform, but the circumstances of Ruis' arrest pushed him over the edge.

One last thing -- about the movies and the books, I saw something in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that if I'd been Rowling I'd be kicking myself and saying "why didn't *I* think of that?" It was making Neville Longbottom a good dancer (and liking to dance). One of those contradictory things that can really endear a character to you (nothing about Snape endears him to me, contradictory or not).

So, wouldn't it be FABULOUS to have millions of people discuss your books? I think so. The flaws would show up, of course, but just the passion of the discussion must be gratifying.

May you dream big today,
Robin

Contacts--Networking

The Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (RMFW) is putting together our conference, and finally I am in a position to help. Once you've been published, you usually Know People. Your editor, agent, junior editors at the same house, agents who hang with yours. So I get to forward invitations from the Conference Goddesses.

That feels good.

Maybe about as good as when I was unpublished and a friend recommended me to her agent...

So this blog is about the PUBLISHING part today. Make sure you join a writer's group, if you write romance, think about Romance Writers of America and check out their chapters. If you write other genres, think about Mystery Writers of America or local groups.

May you meet a new writing friend today.
Robin

Thumbs Down Norton Mess 12+ Hours Unresolved -- Rant

Yeah, I'm infuriated.

I have literally spent 12 hours trying to buy and install Norton Systemworks. I'm on the phone now, (on hold).

What is REALLY awful is that I waited TWO HOURS for a live chat person to resolve my "corrupted file, cannot install program" gave them total access to my machine. They dinked around then I waited, waited and finally realized that they'd disconnected. And closed the chat window, without any notice to me.

This is Norton/Symantec Customer Service? I've had it. I want my $70 back. You can't download with Firefox, so you have to go to Internet Explorer. You can't download with Netscape either said a PREVIOUS chat person (1/2 hour wait there) this am.

Well, have you noticed that Internet Explorer 7 has "issues" with Anti-Virus software programs? And if you have a general windows auto update, it merrily loads 7 on your machine, then you can't get it to work. Then you must find how to UNINSTALL 7 and load 6 again.

Then the Norton key code doesn't work. Then you email someone with the above and they say they aren't trained to answer your issues and please live chat.

When I tried to "fix it yourself" none of the information on the pages (open this tab, which turned out to be nonexistent) was right.

So I'm giving up. I'm asking for a ^$^%^^%^$_)*)(*( refund, reinstalling Firefox (which I took off in the belief that it was causing problems with Internet Explorer 7).

We'll see how long I'm on telephone hold. Will update you later, but I'm sure to still be steamed. Meanwhile, I think I'll uninstall all of Norton (the guy couldn't even get that tool), if I can, head over to Mozilla and ask who they recommend and try McAffee, if nothing else. (Later, I got a lead on a good program for much less with supposedly fabulous support).

I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO NORTON AGAIN.

I got about 350 words done today. It was a hideous day.

May your characters (and not you) have frustration in their lives.
Robin

Night Rising

NIGHT RISING by Chris Marie Green
Ace, February 6, 2007
0-441-01467-4

Welcome to Hollywood—after dark…

Stuntwoman Dawn Madison is a girl with attitude—and a lot of issues, mostly about living up to the legacy of her mother, a world famous movie star whose untimely death left Dawn to be raised by her dad Frank, nobody’s notion of single-father-of-the-year. Now that she’s grown up, she and Frank aren’t on the best of terms, to say the least.

Still, he is her dad, and when he vanishes while investigating the bizarre sighting—caught on film—of a supposedly long-dead child star, she comes home to Tinseltown to join the search for him. Working with his colleagues—a psychic short in stature but big in dreams, a beautiful Latina techno-geek, and the P. I. firm’s never-seen boss—she discovers an erotic and bloody underground society made up of creatures she thought existed only on screen.

They are devious. They are deadly. And some of them are dangerously attractive…

Teaser

May your days and nights be full of creativity for your writing!
Robin

Reader Critical Feedback -- Author Message Boards -- Me for the month of February

Yes, I belong to community message boards, but like many things, I fall behind. This month, the Luna Community board is featuring a discussion of Protector of the Flight, and I will be there answering any questions and discussing.

What's interesting is that the readers DO argue about the motivation of the hero and heroine. When the serial came out (Song of Marwey,), a little over 2 years ago there was much back and forth about who was doing the honorable thing. Different slants that I hadn't even considered. It was fascinating.

So if you have message boards you log onto and discuss, great! And if you have a message board for your own work, that's wonderful, too, and I am in awe of your stamina.

Oh, and the Luna folks have been very good about discussions of the Celta books, too.

May the sun shine on your writing today (it's been absent the last couple of mornings from Denver).

Robin