Samhain Publishing

There are tons of writing tools out there. Go ahead, Google “writing tools.” That’s right—almost four million hits! There is, of course, the indispensable computer. (Does anyone use a typewriter anymore? What did we ever do before Microsoft Word and track changes? Yes, I remember the days when I should have bought stock in white-out and kept Mike Nesmith’s fortune growing – hey, Monkees’ fame couldn’t last forever!)

And there are lots of online and software tools for writers – some programs even outline, break down and organize your entire manuscript for you, depending on how much moolah you want to spend. Editing software, spellcheck, grammar check, you name it, there’s software for it.

But honestly, as a writer, the number one, most valuable writing tool I’ve ever invested in cost me just thirty-nine cents. It allows me what Virginia Woolf once called “A Room of One’s Own” — without having to physically create one. Because if I suggested creating a room of my own in a little house with four kids, a husband, and a myriad of animals, I’d be laughed back to the stone age—where I just KNOW some cave woman was trying to write on cave walls while her children banged femurs on skulls and screamed “songs” with lyrics like, “I farted today and I’m so awesome!” I’m sure of it.

I bet she invented my Number One Writing Tool right there on the spot, and didn’t even pay thirty-nine cents for it.

Earplugs.

That’s right, earplugs. Now, before you gasp and wonder how I can possibly supervise four children while I have earplugs in – let me reassure you, I can still hear them. China can hear them – and we live in the Midwest. What earplugs do for me is ease the noise level so I can think… and write!

If you’re a mommy-writer who’s tried everything, invested in all the software, tried all the tools and tricks, and are still pulling your hair out and wondering why you can’t get any writing done, I’d suggest earplugs. Seriously. The difference is amazing. The moment the earplugs go in, it takes the edge off the constant bodily function jokes—which always somehow end up in my writing when I’m not wearing the earplugs.

Without earplugs, I end up with sentences like this:

“Oh, darling, I love you so much, and I was thinking maybe you could pull my finger….”

Mommy-writers, trust me on the earplugs.

Great investment.

Thirty-nine cents.

And your editor will thank you!

_**~“Selena Kitt”:http://www.selenakittyn.com/blog~*~*~*

My mother claims I used to put on performances in the living room. I would set up my stuffed animals and dolls as an “audience,” use my giant Tinkertoys as both stage set and microphone stand, slather on make-up (blue eye shadow and red lipstick – along with feathered banana clips in my hair. I was a gruesome cross between Tammy Faye and Boy George) and put on hour-long singing shows…at the top of my lungs.

When my mother relays this story to friends, family, ex-boyfriends, I always roll my eyes, vehemently deny it, and insist she “Prove it!”

Too bad they didn’t have video cameras back then, huh?

One of the songs in my repertoire was Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield. It’s still one of my mother’s favorite songs. My penchant for it was always its mystery – what were they doing out there on their walk, I wondered? As a teenager, I had an idea… a rather exciting idea.

“Billy Ray was a Preacher’s son,
And when his daddy would visit he’d come along,
When they gathered round and started talking,
Billy Ray would take me walking…” #

This past year we moved to a very rural area. I have to drive ten miles to a gas station and fifteen to the nearest store. The scenery is mostly farmland – lots and lots of corn. On one of these drives, I happened to catch Dusty Springfield singing about that son of a preacher man…

“Being good isn’t always easy,
No matter how hard I tried,
When he started sweet talking to me,
he’d come tell me everything is all right,
he’d kiss and tell me everything is all right,
Can I get away again tonight?” #

As I sang along (still at the top of my lungs – never grew out of that habit – thankfully no one else was in the car!) I had an image of the two of them, holding hands and walking through the field.

By the time I got to the gas station, I knew exactly who Billy Ray and his girl were.

And I knew I had to tell their story.

_{Cover art by Scott Carpenter}

ROSIE’S PROMISE
MARCH 11, 2008
Length: Short Story
Price: 2.50

A summer of love, choices, and change…

Billy Ray and Rosie, each full of the promise of innocence and youth, want more than their rural Midwest home can offer. During this tumultuous Vietnam era, Rosie is excited to accept a scholarship to college.

But Billy reveals his defiance of his pacifist, preacher father by declaring that at the end of summer he will enlist to fight in the war.

With the realization looming that all they may ever have is this one last summer together, Billy Ray and Rosie explore their youthful love and passion. Rosie swears to wait for his return from Vietnam.

But only Fate knows how long Rosie’s promise will keep her waiting in bittersweet vigil—and what the consequences of their actions might mean for their future.

- – – – -

EXCERPT:

“Oh, speaking of picking…” Mama poured lemonade over a glass of ice she set in front of the preacher. “Rosie, will you run out back and pick me… Let me think…”

She frowned, looking up at the ceiling as if the answer were written above her head. “I’d say…fifteen…fifteen ears of corn should do it.”

I couldn’t believe my luck. We were gonna have the opportunity to be alone twice in one Sunday?

“Sure, Mama.” I didn’t bother with my shoes and I tried to make it sound real casual when I stopped with my hand on the screen door, looked back and asked, “You wanna help me, Billy Ray?”

He slipped behind me, pushing the door open as an answer.

“Your daddy don’t care, does he?” I glanced back at the preacher man on the front stoop drinking Mama’s lemonade and talking with my daddy as Billy Ray and I made our way through the field.

“Oh, he cares.” Billy Ray picked a piece of long sweet grass and stuck it between his teeth to suck on. “He just trusts me, is all.”

I lifted my blue eyes to his dark ones and we both smiled. “We got a new lamb. Wanna see him?”

“Sure.” He followed my change in trajectory as we cut toward the barn.It smelled like hay and manure inside and the earthy odor of animals. I stopped to give my horse a nuzzle, rubbing my cheek against his silky black nose. Jupiter nibbled at my long, brown hair looking for goodies, and I giggled, pushing him away.

“Not today, Jupiter.” I noticed Billy’s eyes on me as he leaned back against one of the stalls, his arms crossed, just watching.

“He just wants a little sugar,” Billy Ray noted with a slow smile. “Don’t see as I blame him.”

My cheeks blushed even pinker as I moved past him, hearing his boots fall on the concrete behind me as I made my way to the sheep pen. The new lamb was sleeping curled by his mother’s side but he looked up and bleated as we approached. His mother nuzzled him and bleated back as if to say, “All’s well” and the lamb closed his eyes again.

“Ain’t he sweet?” I squatted down to peer through the wooden slats.

“Yep.” Billy Ray leaned over the rail, chewing on his blade of grass. “Not as sweet as you, a’course.”

I snorted, putting my hands on my knees and rocking back, rolling my eyes. “You think I’m stupid, Billy Ray Harris?”

He smiled down at me. “Why would I think that?”

“I know what you’re doin’.” I stood, brushing my hands over my dress as if squatting next to the pen had made it dirty, and put my feet up on the first rail to peer over at the lamb, making me just as tall as the preacher’s son.

“Yeah?” Billy Ray did the same, bringing his height to a full head taller again. His shoulder brushed mine as he reached up to tip his hat back. “What am I doin’?”

“You’re no better than Jupiter.” I nudged him with my knee. The lamb was blinking, swinging its head back and forth between us. “You’re just looking for some sugar.”

“Aw, come on, Rosie.” He tilted his head when he smiled at me. “Can you blame me? Pretty girl like you…you’d just melt in my mouth like sugar…”

“Billy Ray!” I pushed him with my shoulder, meeting solid resistance. He didn’t budge an inch. “What you’re talkin’ ’bout is a sin. What would your daddy say?”

He snorted. “What Daddy don’t know, don’t hurt him. Besides, I told you, he trusts me.”

I hopped off the rail, brushing my hands together. “Well, now, that was his mistake, wasn’t it?”

Billy Ray stepped off the wooden slat and stood in front of me. “Don’t you trust me, girl?”

I met his eyes, trying to decide if the question was genuine. “Should I?”

“Wouldn’t hurt ya.” He brushed a stray hair off my cheek. It tickled. His fingers lingered over my jaw, his thumb rubbing there.

I glanced nervously past him, clearing my throat. “I don’t know ’bout that.”

Billy Ray frowned, stepping back. “You act like I’m Lucifer come to tempt you with a nice shiny apple.”

“I didn’t mean—” I stopped as he turned and started toward the barn doors. “Hey, Billy Ray, wait up…”

- – – – -
_{#Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield}

Buy it today!
XOXO
Selena

We authors have always been notorious wasters of resources and energy for the sake of our art. Think of the writers staying up late at night, burning whale oil or candles to pen their tomes on expensive parchment with precious ink. Of course, nowadays, we burn incandescent lightbulbs and use precious wattage to run our PC’s, but still… As Kermit says, “It isn’t easy being green.” So how can a writer go green? Here are ten green writing tips for you to consider:

1. Do all of your writing and editing on-screen. If you’re one of those old fashioned writers who use a typewriter and a red pen—stop! Put the pen down, now! The energy it takes to run your computer or laptop is small compared to the reams of dead trees you stubbornly continue to use. If you simply can’t get used to the new technology, then you can at least use recycled paper, print on both sides, and use the lowest quality setting on your printer to save ink.

It may not seem like it, but paper is a big deal. It’s our number one discarded material, it fills 30-40% of our landfills, and each year Americans alone consume more than 850 million trees. When burned, paper leaks toxic chemicals from its ink that are released into the air. If you can commit to doing one thing to help the environment, this would be a biggie. Every 100 reams of recycled paper printed double-sided saves two trees, more than a ton of greenhouse gas and almost 35 cubic feet of landfill space. (source)

2. If you have switched to writing/editing on-screen, use an “energy saver” function on your computer screen to reduce energy output. And turn off your computer and unplug it when it’s not in use. That goes for your printer, fax, copy machine, cell phone and all that jazz, too!

3. If you’ve come this far, switch from a desktop to a laptop. Laptops are much more energy and materials efficient than desktop PC’s. Buy from a computer company who uses recycled materials, is generally environmentally conscious, and who creates energy efficient computers.

4. Change your lightbulbs from incandescent to energy efficient CFL bulbs. For each kilowatt hour of electricity saved, one ton of greenhouse gas is stopped from entering the atmosphere.
(Or you can do what our ancestors did and write by candle light—creates a nice, romantic atmosphere, too!)

5. Submit to publishers who accept electronic submissions. In doing so, you’re saving paper, envelopes, postage, plus all the emissions and fossil fuel use in transporting your submission into the hands of the publisher.

6. Publish with an E-publisher. Every E-book saves paper, and considering the statistics above, that’s a good thing. Plus, with the invention of ebook readers, you can take ebooks almost anywhere you can take print books (except maybe the bathtub!) Not only that, but ebooks are instant gratification (no wasting fossil fuels in a run to Borders or packing materials in a delivery from Amazon!) and you’re not wasting space to store it, either!

7. Do all of your promotion online. If you do mass mailings, switch to e-mail. Gather email addresses rather than snail mail ones. The amount of paper and fossil fuels you’ll save will be enormous just with this one change. If you must do snail-mail promotions, reduce your output to postcard size on recycled paper.

8. Attend online conferences instead of real life conventions. Imagine the amount of fossil fuels saved—no airplane rides, no cab rides, no hotel stays—just everyone in their own homes, burning CFL lightbulbs and partying on their computers in a virtual world. Could be fun!

9. Do a virtual book tour instead of a live appearance or book signing. You can reach a great number of people online, perhaps even more than a local book tour, and you’re saving lots of energy doing it.

10. If you’re going to create promotional materials, do so with a printer who prints on recycled materials. Keep your output usable and reusable if you can. Biodegradable pens, for example. There are actually companies out there who provide biodegradable promotional products made of all recycled materials!

It isn’t necessarily easy being green, but ultimately, it’s worth it. And it really isn’t as hard as it may seem. Every little bit counts. I’m grateful to everyone who can manage even the smallest change, because even changing one thing can eventually change the world. So I thank you, Kermit thanks you, and the Kermie-socks thank you, too!

XOXO
Selena Kitt