Well...if it's not writing, it's RIDING. You see, when we moved back to California, Lori wanted to get me away from the computers (I am still teaching about 2.5 full time jobs), so she finally agreed to letting me get a Harley...not just ANY Harley, mind you, but the one of my dreams. Flames....chrome....with a gasket cover of dice rolling a seven with the words LUCKY over the top.
I've never named a vehicle, but the bike's name is Lucky.
I feel Lucky most of the time....and blessed.
1) I live in a gorgeous town I grew up in filled with old friends, many of whom never left, many who are returning to care for their elderly parents as well.
2) I have a wonderful partner (and wife) who understands me and takes care of my needs...meaning she gives me time and space to write and ride.
3)I have my health. The older you get, the more important that is.
4)I am incredibly happy on a daily basis
5)I have a cool bike and new, cool tattoos, and and and...
Life is great.

I would call it the metaphorical saddle, if I didn't really fit in one just about every other day. Did I buy a horse, you ask? Sort of. I am the proud owner of a 2003 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide who goes by the nom-de-plume of Lucky.
There are times when I think that Lucky quite literally saved my sanity. Being out on the open road is about as free as you can get without flying, and I sort of did that as well this past year. When my youngest daughter and I jumped out of an airplane, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't nearly as fun as being on the back of Lucky. That may tell you a little bit about Lucky: Lucky has red orange and yellow flames across her entire body. She wears so much chrome, as you have to wear sunglasses to look at her. And loud? You can hear Lucky for miles down the road. With all of this, the best part about Lucky is the fact that I no longer have to ride alone.
Lori has decided that she, too, likes being in the saddle. Once we decided that Lucky was going to become a part of our life, we joined a motorcycle group of all women called JUGS. You can check us out and our uber the top cool bikes at www.jugswmc.com. Here, we have found kindred spirits; women who aren't into drinking, drama, or drugs.
Why am I sharing all of this?
Because I see a book in it some day. In the Harley world, we have a saying: "if I have to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand." I'm thinking maybe I want to try to explain it to you.
So, stay tuned... because I am back and to bigger and better than before!
VROOOOM
VROOOOM

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to sit down and catch people up on my website and blog…it’s been a helluva year and I, for one, am damn glad it’s over. This is the first time in a really long time that I am looking forward to the new year…a really new year.
Not that I’m complaining, mind you. There were some really good parts of 2008:
My eighth book, Across Time came out.
I went to the Panama Canal
Spent a month in Mexico
Visited our youngest in Orlando, where she is Minnie Mouse at Disneyworld.
Watched our oldest excel in college.
And then…
BAM…
Here is what happened:
We hate the weather in Oregon...last winter was 9 gray months and we decided we did not want to grow old there.
So we started looking for houses in the sun.
Florida, Georgia, Arizona
I was hired at a C College in Florida, but after being in Ft. Lauderdale, I couldn't see us living there, so I declined it.
Then we took a vacation to New Orleans, only to have American Airlines cancel all flights there.
"Can we get to Phoenix?"
Yep.
So we took that opportunity to look at the ONLY house (a finished model with a pool) that we had fallen in love with over the thousands we'd looked at.
The model had gone on sale THAT day.
So we bought it.
Came home and I started applying in Arizona.
Got hired at the high school in Maricopa.
Put the Oregon house on the very baaaaad market.
In August, I drove to Maricopa, leaving Lori to sell the house and get us packed.
And then....something happened.
I did not do well on my own...I slid down the shitter from a combination of sleeping 3 hours a night, not eating, and being miserable without my dog, my girl, and my books. I was nearly manic by the time Lori came to see me and realized that I was in crisis...we don't know why, but we surmise Maricopa is built on an Indian burial ground, like Poltergeist, and so much there is fucked up.
Lori goes home to Oregon and packs up and moves to Arizona, regardless of the house being for sale. Packs up the dog, the turtles, and a few books, and heads down to Arizona. The first night we were together, I slept 16 hours…
And then we had to move from where I lived into a bigger place.
So....there we were...living in one room of a 5 bedroom house we were sharing with a very lovely Christian woman, who, one week after we moved in, lost the house in divorce court.
What?
But she got the judge to let us stay until Dec.
Problem with that?
The house was EMPTY.
We didn't have a couch...a fork...a pot...NADA.We couldn't even make a sandwich if we wanted to!
To make matters worse...when we bought the house that day, it was one of the few days the CATTLE DAIRY FARM one mile away didn't smell like Bakersfield. I mean, there were days you couldn't take a breath. It was horrible!
So there we were...in an empty house, in a town that stunk, at job where, two months of eating lunch every day, my colleagues (whom I enjoyed) hadn't asked me ONE SINGLE QUESTION. They didn't know if I was married, straight, had kids, or published 8 novels. They knew NOT ONE THING even though we parties every Friday together. How does that happen? How can you not ask someone one personal question? And the funny part is, I really dug them. They were bright, fun, excellent teachers.
But we managed to keep convincing ourselves that this was where we were supposed to be.

And then my mom went into the hospital on Monday and she died of heart failure on Tuesday, necessitating that we return to California to care for my stroke-addled father, who, while still driving, clearly needed help around the house and in general.
What a delightful surprise we got when we discovered that my brother and sister-in-law had been stealing from my parents for years. They had actually gotten my father's SSN and checking account number and set up autopays to pay for their idiot children's cell phones, cable, and cigarettes. They have also been living rent free for the last 5 years, and basically taking half of my dad's pension to live on.
So, two months after we moved to Arizona, we called the movers and returned for good, to Danville in order to protect my dad from the likes of my brother and sister-in-law, who have been living on the gravy train for years.

So...with Lucy and the turtles, Lori and I are settling in to a new life in California. I've built an incredible library in the front room, complete with fireplace and huge picture window. I have been hired by a Community College to teach Intro to Fiction and Composition, and Lori is busy painting and getting the smoke smell out of my dad's house. He loves her as well as little Lucy, and is doing well for having lost his wife of 51 years.
We got him one of those Barka Loungers guys love, a big screen TV, a new bed, a tv in his room, he eats better than he ever has, watches movies with us several times a week and loves our Wii. Life is good for Ronnie.
We have committed to making our home in Danville. We love it there, as it is so quaint, safe, and was voted 20th most affluent city in America by Forbes Magazine. What that means to us is culture. People with money support the arts, put more tax dollars into education, and keep their homes up! LOL.
Plus...no cow smell!
BONUS!
We have decided that we want to start going and doing more, and after the first of the year, are taking same sex ballroom dancing lessons. Ahhh, the beauty of living in the Bay Area!
We look forward to the New Year...a new life from old ashes, and my 9th novel came out in March of 2009, called Second Time Around.
And sooooo now, you're all caught up.
Letting my dad remain in his home until the end of his life is the best gift we could give him. He is a wonderful man who has helped so many people, that this was the only thing to do. I am so glad we're doing it. He is a lot of fun and just a sweet, sweet man.
So that’s where I have been for 2009…glad it’s over…ready to move on.
And I AM moving. I am ready to get an agent, to sell as many Second Time Arounds as I can, and ready to enjoy all life has to offer. If you want to drop me a line…you can always find me at
iamstorm@yahoo.com

I miss you.
More than you could ever know.

I get so sick of writing about MEMEMEMEME that I NEED to ask those of you are students what you think about the textbook buyback scams happening to students all over the country.

See, as an English instructor, I don't use any textbooks. ANY. EVER. I refuse to participate in the gouging of our poor students...in the book buy back system that is a joke...nor do I want to use an antiquated text that I used when *I* was in college (my classmates' last names were Neanderthal and Cromagnon).

It's deplorable that we are at the mercy of big business! Besides, with the Internet resources that are out there, there's so much we can use that is FREE, BETTER, and more UP-TO-DATE than those crappy texts so many professors assign.
Does it take more work on my part? Hell yes. Is it worth it? Hell yes.

So...I was thinking...some of you have stories you want people to read and comment on. What I am proposing is this: I would like to send my students to people's blog (especially those who are on my friends' list) and have them read and comment about the pieces. Then, I can log on and grade my students' comments and participation (not online, of course, but in my little black book MWAHAHAHAH)

If this sounds like something you're interested in, feel free to post here, telling me the following:
Title
Length (I'd prefer a shorter piece of 3-7 pages)
One Sentence description of the piece.
What you want the reader to look for as s/he reads.
When/where it is posted so they can find it.

I hope this is helpful. Many of you have been so kind and helpful to me, in getting ACROSS TIME to your friends, your bookstores, etc. I want to return the favor!

Linda Kay

Okay...I seldom forward things to people, but I did this next piece because it warmed my heart and made me smile.
In a zoo in California, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only orphans' that could be found quickly were a litter of weanling pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger. Would they become cubs or pork chops?

Take a look...you won't believe your eyes!!

So...we're going to New
Orleans...only...we were holding American Airlines tickets.
Bummer.
We get to the counter and decide we'll go
anywhere where it's sunny...why not Phoenix?
We've been looking at homes there because they're
really affordable and we want OUTOUTOUT of cold,
gray, drizzly Oregon.
So we say, "Can you get us to Phoenix?"
The poor thing who has been yelled at by everyone
says, "Are you kidding? Really?"
"Really."
She gets us right on a non-stop flight...we get a
cute hotel and a Mustang Convertible and decide,
"Let's at least go to Maricopa (a small town) to
cross it off our list. The only house we want is
a model home and it's not for sale."
Au contraire, mon ami.
We get there.
Yep.
Our house....after looking at HUNDREDS and
wanting only ONE...is for sale.
It has 100,000 worth of upgrades, including:
Pool with fountains
Surround sound inside and out
Plantation shutters
Gourmet kitchen
3 car garage
All window coverings
4 bedroom, 3 bath 2700 square feet.

And yes, we bought it.
What?
Yes, we bought it. And why?
Serendipity.
We weren't SUPPOSED to be in Arizona last
weekend.

Or were we?
:)
So now, we have put our home up for sale, I am
looking at jobs in Phoenix, and we'll
be moving anywhere from 2-12 months from now.
Because it's still a model home, it won't be
ready until they sell the last bunch of houses,
which worked great for us because now there's no
crunch.
It was meant to be.
We can do just fine with all my online jobs (I
now teach at 6 different schools online and love
it), but to keep from being a hermit, I need to
get a job, so I am looking at the MANY other
options in Phoenix. The truth is, I want to teach
right there in Maricopa at the local high school.
That would be fun for me!
Anyway, I wanted to catch you up on the comings
and goings of our life.
Even my MOM thinks it's
a great idea and said, "Frankly, I'm surprised
you stayed in Oregon as long as you have. You'll
love Arizona."
Hello?
What have you done with my mother?
:)
We are terribly excited, as this was THE house we
wanted and we weren't going to do what we call
Costcoing.
When we Costco (and we ALL have done it), we see
something for a great price, but say we'll "get
it next time." When we go back, it's never there.
So we got it.
Life's funny.
This is our pool:

OKay....I've checked around and asked a lot of different folks about the best way to get my books out there, and so far, the most popular response is Myspace. Ugh. I have such ISSUES with myspace...

Does anyone have any advice/ideas/thoughts about this being a good way to go?

Well that was fast, furious, and fun! I had a great time answering the questions, visiting with people, and generally hanging around blogs to see if folks were commenting, reading,etc. It was an interesting experience...I won't know if it is entirely successful yet, but I am certainly glad I gave it a try.

I am contacting a family member who is a publicist just to see what she thinks I ought to do for my next step in getting Across Time out there. I've had good feedback from people who've read it, but it's time to get it moving!

I am currently working on revision the third in the Across Time series. My editor, Katherine Forrest is working on Second Time Around and will send it back to me with her comments.

Well, I better get back to writing.

Oh...a MUST read...The Book Thief. Don't let the blurb fool you. The story is WONDERFULLY written and completely engaging.

My feet have finally landed on the ground after the party. It was amazing. Great food, great wine, great people...is there anything better?

Now, people who bought the book are getting back to me to tell me what they thought, so that's been a great time.

The virtual book tour has been a blast as well...but the best part? Watching Across Time get better in the rankings. I was so excited to see that tonight!

I am currently working on the rewrite of Second Time Around and working hard to promote Across Time. I'll be back...but right now, my guest blogs are beckoning me!

Here is one of my first book reviews for Across Time. How exciting!

"Linda Kay Silva has written a thought provoking story, that leads you down a path not traveled often. Open your mind and heart, and pick up this fantastic read that will be sure to evoke thoughts and emotions that may have been buried deep within you.

Jessie Ferguson is what some people might consider a lost soul - to fill the void in her life she has turned to drugs, alcohol, and sex but nothing seems to ease the aching she feels deep within her soul. After all she has put her parents through, they feel the only alternative they have is to start over in a new town. Maybe a fresh start will be enough to help Jessie to shed the negativity that seems to surround her and give her a chance to lead a more normal life.

To Jessie, nothing sounds worse than leaving sunny California to go live in dreary, foggy Oregon. Who would want to live in a town where everything seems to move so slow and everything seems about 10 years behind the times? Even though her parents and brother seem excited at the prospect of running a Victorian B & B, she has a hard time feeling anything but angry and depressed - who moves their daughter when she is about to start her Senior year in high school, no matter what she may have done in the past?

Jessie’s life is about to turn around in a major way, all thanks to the town “crazy” Madam Ceara. At first, Jessie isn’t sure what to make of her, especially after it seems as if she truly is the psychic she proclaims to be. But after seeing a door that mysteriously vanishes and reappears in her house, she turns to the one person who may be able to help make sense of some of this. What Madam Ceara tells her is shocking, and would make most people shake their heads in disbelief. But Jessie has faith that not only is Madam Ceara right about the “magic” of the door, but also right when she tells Jessie that following the advice she gives will drastically change her life, even if it endangers it at the same time.

I must say this is one of the more fascinating books I have read. I don’t like to delve into the plot too much as I want each individual to experience the story in their own way. I related to this book on a very deep level - one of my favorite passages was this:

“Dreams are powerful. No matter what the people think in your time, you must believe in their power. You must know without any doubt that this is a special place where souls meet and reflect on the wisdom of the ages.”

Dreams and their meaning have been discussed for many years. Some people thing that they are just the minds way of “rambling”, while others, like myself, feel that they convey a lot of information that could be helpful in leading a more productive and peaceful existence. It takes time and patience to study your dreams, but it really may be worth the effort, especially if you are struggling with problems in your life (and which one of us isn’t).

The other passage that struck a chord with me was this:

“ We believe that our anam cara always sees our light, our beauty, our very best traits. Our anam cara accepts us for who we truly are. The anam cara love awakens the fullness and mystery of life.”

What is an anam cara? According to Celtic spiritual tradition, the soul shines all round the body like a luminous cloud. When you are very open - appreciative and trusting - with another person, your two souls flow together. This deeply felt bond with another person means you have found your anam cara, or “Soul Friend.” Your anam cara always beholds your light and beauty, and accepts you for who you truly are. In Celtic spirituality, the anam cara friendship awakens the fullness and mystery of your life. You are joined in an ancient and eternal union with humanity that cuts across all barriers of time, convention, philosophy, and definition. When you are blessed with an anam cara, the Irish believe, you have arrived at that most sacred place.

What a beautiful thought!

This review is brought to you by Pump Up Your Book Promotion's, where Linda Kay Silva's book will be on virtual tour all month."

This Saturday is the book signing party...and I am so excited! We've been buying bottles and bottles of wine...Lori's been planning lots of food, and I've been getting the books ready and guest blogging on virtual tours. It's been fun!

I think the best part about blogging is how many wonderful people I've "met" along the way and how helpful people really are.

I wish I had more time to write, but the show must go on. I'll check back in after the party and tell you all about it!

Well...my virtual book tour starts tomorrow! If you're interested in how this works, stop by and see for yourself! Leaving a comment puts you in the running for receiving a free book at the end of the tour!

Here's my schedule of events!

Mar. 4 – http://blogcritics.org/books/
Mar. 5 – www.rosemariewolf.blogspot.com
Mar. 6 – http://storycrafters.blogspot.com/
Mar. 7 – http://www.j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/
Mar. 10 – http://beyondthebooks.wordpress.com/
Mar. 11 – http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com
Mar. 12 – http://www.amateurdelivre.com
Mar. 13 – http://www.interviewswithauthors.blogspot.com/
Mar. 14 – http://thedarkphantom.wordpress.com/
Mar. 17 – http://virtualwordsmith.blogspot.com/ (review)
Mar. 18 – http://www.thewriterslife.blogspot.com
Mar. 19 – http://virtualwordsmith.blogspot.com/ (interview)
Mar. 20 – http://buzzthebook.blogspot.com (spotlight-synopsis & book cover posted)
Mar. 21 – http://www.fictionscribe.com/
Mar. 24 - http://rebecca2007.wordpress.com
Mar. 25 – http://henritheghost.blogspot.com/
Mar. 26 – http://www.thebookstacks.com/
Mar. 27 – http://www.bookmarketingbuzz.wordpress.com
Mar. 28 – www.theresachaze.blogspot.com

Please tell your friends to come by...I'd love to see you there!

Okay...this is for anyone who scours the bookshelves looking for books on writing. I've read them all and there is only ONE that ever really spoke to me...
If You Want to Write by Barbara Ueland.
This is  ano-nonsense book by a crusty octogenarian (now deceased) who even writes at one point, "If you really wanted to be writing, you'd put this book down and go do it."
I fell in love with her then.
No pompous rhetorica about reading the classics.
No jocularity about alcohol consumption.
Nothing extraneous other than how to think and act like a writer and how to write for yourself.
It's a small book and you can finish it in a weekend.

Linda Kay gives it two thumbs up!

Let me know how it goes.

The party planning is nearly done...the invitations are all out, the books ordered, the menu completed....it's all good. I think the best part was that some of my oldest friends called to say they got the invite and that they are proud of me. Even at (eep) 48 years old, their support of what I do is still so important.
Two of them were women I played ball against when I was younger...One, I have known for 33 years, the  other, 30 years. That may seem like a long time to some, but my OLDEST friend I've known for 43 of my 48 years. I am proud of that fact...especially since we had nothing in common when we were kids...she was a theater geek, I was a jock. SHe spoke Hebrew, I spoke German. She was a Jew, I was a Gentile. She got married, I never did. I have kids, she never did. And yet...43 years is longer than most marriages! Anyway, it was really nice hearing from everyone who called just to say, "Rock on, sister!"

I was interviewed by a student for the college's paper, and that was really fun. We chatted and laughed, and it was the best interview I've had in a long time. There's so much to do when you're trying to get a book out there...but I think after the book launch, and after my Virtual Book Tour, I should see some numbers in my sales.

I am busy, busy and loving every minute of it! Life is just getting better and better!

I hope everyone out there finds the time to write and to dream this weekend!

So, I've had these really cool bookmarks made for the book launch and I think the woman did such a great job, I want to share her (and her link) with anyone who might be in the market for one.
We all know people love free things...and we wanted to give the book lovers who come to the party something they can use. We were able to design the whole thing, so it has the book cover, my website and blog links, titles of my books, and email. When we opened the box yesterday, we were delighted by what we saw. For about a buck apiece, we felt like we got a good deal and a really nice product. For kicks and giggles, we also designed and bought 100 matchbook covers, but instead of matches (few people smoke here in Oregon), there's a wrapped mint inside. Super cool! www.kjsweetexpressions.com


I also wanted to add, in case not everyone knows about www.vistaprint.com that you can order 250 customized business cards for free. All you pay is shipping. I use vistaprint for everything: business cards, return address stamp pad, invitations, even my checks! I love the idea that I can design everything to fit my needs and most of these items cost me shipping only. I have two sets of business cards, one for teaching and one for my writing. The writing card has the Across Time cover on the front, and my pertinent publishing information on the back. If you have never checked out vistaprint, cruise on over there. It's well worth the shipping fee.

Finally, many many many people are self publishing through the site www.lulu.com Lulu is a great site for many reasons, but the reason it works for me is that I upload my draft manuscripts there, design the cover, and then buy a copy of my newly bound book for about 11.00. THIS is what I give to my pre-readers who then mark it up and edit it and let me know what works and what doesn't work. Instead of asking them to lug around a ream of paper, they now have an actual book in hand. Let me tell you, they were THRILLED when I first presented them with the manuscript in book form. Not only is it easier to carry around, but they are all able to get to it sooner because they can read it while waiting at the doctor's office, while at the pool, etc. My turnaround time was cut in half. (Not that I'm in a hurry, but when people are kind enough to edit my work, the least I can do is make it as easy for them as possible, right?)

That's it for today's goodie bag! I hope you get some use out of any or all of these. If you have any goodies you'd like to share, I'd love to hear them! I'm always in the mood for fun stuff!

 We've finished the invitations and are working on the food for the party...I'm glad I don't have to worry about details. I think that' the reason I am so incredibly happy with my life and the way it going. Everyone should be so lucky to have someone like I do who makes sure the rest of the universe lines up for them. That's what gives me the time to write...and I feel blessed for it.

So...besides finding a place, ordering the food, getting the books shipped here, blah blah blah...I've discovered something new.

Hatha Yoga.

It's that hot yoga (about 102 degrees in the room) where you torture your body and sweat like a demon and and and...
And I love it.
It's not so surprising since I was an athlete long ago and enjoy that kind of sweat...but what surprised me is how HARD it actually is. It's an hour and half of sweating and pulling and balancing, and when it's all said and done, I am soaked and more invigorated than any tennis match or softball game. There's a lot to like about this...but the thing that I've enjoyed most is...you push YOURSELF. There's no competition, no one yelling at you, no one doing it "better." 
And then there's the second thing I like most:
I can't think of ANYTHING else while I'm in there. It take my complete and utter concrentration to do a standing camel on tree (or whatever they're called)...and I need that. I think, as writers, ALL WE DO IS THINK.
Sometimes, we need to stop and let our brains catch up to us and that's what it feels like with Yoga. It feels like I am allowing myself some down time....from teaching....from writing...from reading. You're just in the moment.
I am beginning to like that moment with all its sweat and grueling torquing of my body.
The benefits to Hatha Yoga are well known...and I am only just beginning to see the affects.

So...today, I start with a clear mind, a toxin-free body, and a wonderful, positive outlook.
I should have done this years ago.

Have a wonderful 3 day weekend!

 My novel came today.
Can I tell you how @*_*@(#&* exciting it is when you open that box for the first time and there it is...your book...your name on it...
It's so cool.
Even though it's not my first, it is every bit as special.
It's #*_(@&*# awesome :)

So what do you do?
First, you open it.
Then you stare down into the box.
These are your free copies.
I only give free copies to people who made it in the dedication or thank yous...that way, when stupid people ask you for a free copy, you don't seem like a cheapskate or a diva when you say "Go buy one." Which, of course, isn;t very magnanimous.
Of course, if your friends are such buffoons that they think you'll make money by giviing away books, I suppose you get what you deserve.
Mine know better.
Even my students know better.

So...when you finally reach in there and pick one up....it's like a bar of gold...
or a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's.
You want to cry.
But you're smilnig so big, you don't.
You caress it
Like a lover you've waited a lifetime to touch.
You turn it over...
there are more words....your words...your isbn number...
this is your baby...
and for a moment, there's nothing but the two of you and a dream come true.
So you allow yourself a few hours to float...maybe a few days...it's like a drug...a high you cannot explain.

You did it.
With a lot of help.
So you come down
and you thank those people who helped make your dreams come true.

Then you make a ritual.
"This," you say to yourself (or your dog) "is what we'll do EVERY TIME I publish."
Have a drink.
or two.
sit with your arm around your dog by the pond, smiling like a fool because DREAMS DO COME TRUE.

And when you realize it's time now for the business side of the art....time to sell...time to push....time to act like a rock star...
You kiss the cover lightly, put it on your bookshelf
And get back to business.

The damn thing won't sell itself!

Cheers!