All posts by NewEngland_Muse

I'm a traditionally and self published author. I write in the genre of children and YA at the moment but working my way up to adults. I'm a sports loving, photo taking gal who loves to sing/dance to my own enjoyment. I love to laugh even at myself. I am also owned by 8 birds and 2 hamsters, and yes they know it. :)
Birds, Feathery friend, Twopiece

Twopiece: My first bird

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Monday was a rough morning. My first bird ever, Twopiece, was at the bottom of the cage. He scared me enough that hubby dug a hole in the back next to where his mate is buried.

Twopiece came home with me in 1998 and is roughly 17-18 years old. I always told myself when he is no longer with us I would be okay for he has had a long life. I was wrong, that was a lie. I am not ready for my little man to go just yet.

The problem with birds is by the time you notice they are not well they are almost always on their way to being gone. They hide their sickness which is a trait they learn in the wild. What is amazing is how my other birds were there supporting him, all of them as they try to cheer him on.

The next few days we will see how it goes. I just don’t want him in pain, and there is little I can do to help him if he is except bring him to the vet.

I was in denial the entire day as I hoped this was just as scare . For anyone who think birds can’t be as loving as a dog or cat has never been around a bird before for any great amount of time.

Since 1998 I have had a hell of a lot of surgeries, procedures, in and out-patient procedures and each time Twopiece has sat on my shoulder either grooming my hair or singing in my ear as he helped me forget the pain I was feeling. They all do this for me.

But TP is special since he is my first bird ever. The average life of a cockatiel is 15-20 years though some do live longer. Twopiece is in his golden years so I know the time could be close. The scary part is the rest of my tiels are all a year apart and in their middle years as well.

I am not ready yet and I hope he isn’t either. The crappy part of being a pet owner. Though I don’t consider any of mybirds pets but more the line as my feathery friends.

UPDATE:

Twopiece is doing better as of today. He is eating, drinking and grooming himself. These are all good signs. I will be watching him carefully. But I think it is time I cover up the hole that my husband dug up on Monday before the little guy gets any idea of using it.

 

 

Happy Birthday, Sharon C. Williams, Time for me

Happy Birthday To Me

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Today is my birthday. WOOT. It has already been a great one so far. Last Friday my son took me out for lunch and then to see the new Captain America movie. We had a good time and had some mom and son bonding.

I have received some lovely cards and money to boot. More WOOT here. My husband took me out to eat on Sunday to a place of my choice. On Monday my friend Adrianne took me out for lunch. I have received the book “ Wired For Story” from my good friend John. And a really good thing is I joined the IHOP birthday club so this means I received an email for a free meal at IHOP. And my husband just surprised me a few minutes ago with a transformer computer. These are the ones that are a tablet and laptop in one. WOOT WOOT WOOT

All of this has happened before today even made its way. It has been a good few days. The last two years I have spent my birthday the same way. I have gone to a local nature park with some cameras, sketch book, a reading book and some good sneakers.

It looks like it will be raining today like it did yesterday so I might not be able to do anything more than walking and taking pictures in the rain but I am down with that. It is a chance for me to stay away from the computer and electronics, though will keep my phone with me, and just enjoy the day to do things I love to do. Granted I can do this just about any time of the year but we all know life has a way of getting in the way.

For my birthday I am able to shed those to the side and just contract on some distracted hours and not feel guilty about it. I expect to have a blast, I tend to when I give my mind and body a break from the stress of events going on around me.

I have more to look forward to. Tomorrow a friend is feeding me lunch for my birthday and later on this week my ladies from my writers group will partake in a meal with me as we celebrate my birthday.

Fun times ahead. I prescribe this for everyone. It is good for the soul.

    

 

Author, Success, Writing dreams

Am I Successful?: A Writer’s View

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How do you define success as an author? When I first started writing a few years ago, my goal was to write a book for any future grandchildren. That was the scope of it. But that soon changed when I decided to throw my hat into the ring and make a go as a writer by trying to get my book published. My goals soon changed as I wanted my book picked up by a publisher, placed in libraries and book stores. A big dream indeed. I’ve always been a dreamer for as long as I can remember. The thoughts that constantly flow threw my brain would make some people dizzy.

But once my goal for my children’s book came to pass, all three have happened, I had to sit back and decide what was next. It was logical to write volume two which I have and it’s in its final edits. I am about forty percent done of volume three.

My book has sold in Egypt, India, England, Scotland and the US. I have had a number of interviews and Jasper has flown to quite a few places.

So would people consider this successful? Well it all depends on who you ask. A good portion of people will break it down to money and how much am I making from it. I have read it takes a new author two to three years to actually get to that point. If the cards falls right for them.

Do I consider myself successful? My goals have been met for my Jasper series down to the last line. Do I feel successful? In a way I don’t for I still have a long way to go but when I look at the grand scheme of things I have come a long way. A time from when people would roll their eyes when I said I was writing. When people were waiting for me to give up my writing hobby and move on. A time when I was not taken seriously so basically kept it to myself and other writers.

Now that I have written all of the above I pause as I think of how I feel on this topic. It is an accomplishment I am very proud off. It took a lot of time, effort and grief to get to this point. So how do I celebrate?

-I framed my writing contract

-I framed a copy of the cover to my book

-I framed a copy of the computer screen when my writing group, The Wonder Chicks, made the Amazon Best Sellers list

-I framed my first dollar earned.

I am slowly running out of space. But now it is time for new goals and dreams as I push forward. And for me to work at getting them accomplished. It’s tough being a dreamer. But it helps me strive forward and keeps me motivated.