Jillian Chantal

Posted by: Author | July 10, 2012

Unitentionally Funny Signage

This sign cracked me up when we went to park at the conference I attended in Atlanta this past weekend. I was not at the Jehovah’s Witness meeting, but they were in the same facility as our meetings.

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Posted in Random thoughts | Tags: Atlanta, convention, Gwinnett Center, unintentional Funny picture

Posted by: Author | July 9, 2012

Sorry for no post in a while. I went to visit a friend in Atlanta Metro area and while I was gone, my mom had to head to emergency room again and now today, she was there yet again. She now, on top of everything else, has shingles. She’s in a lot of pain. They are keeping her overnight because of the shingles. She didn’t get admitted to hospital when she had a stroke, but they admitted her over shingles. I think I’m in an alternate universe where up is down and down is up!

I also missed posting a Friday Fact. Sorry. Had one planned but then was stressed over going up to Atlanta and trying to decide if I should turn around and come back home immediately. Friday Fact wasn’t so important then.

9 Comments

Posted in Random thoughts | Tags: Atlanta, friend, shingles, stress, stroke

Posted by: Author | July 5, 2012

Fourth of July Plans Gone Awry- In a Good Way- I Think.

I had a plan. A grand plan for the Fourth of July. I was going to get my new WIP, called Moon Dance, up to 25,000 words, I was going to pack for my trip to Atlanta which entailed getting some things together for scrapbooking for two solid days and I had plans to go to my parents’ for lunch to celebrate the holiday.

On the third, I had a chat with my friend Darlene about Whortleberry Press and the fact that the first story I ever sold was to them in 2009. It was for a Halloween anthology and I’ve been in the last three Halloween volumes with them (along with other anthologies). I told D. that I had zero ideas for a story and the deadline is approaching. I was a bit sad because this publisher is near and dear since the editor, Jean, was the first to take a chance on me (and my stories are there under my other name).

Lo and behold, I woke up on the morning of the fourth with the first paragraph of a story in my head. It was so good, I got the chills. I jumped up and headed to the iPad to jot it down. Just the one paragraph, mind you, because I still had to get the WIP to 25,000 and all that other stuff I planned. Well, dang if that story wouldn’t stop. I got that first paragraph done, another came, got it done and it seemed to keep on going, ad infinitum. About the time I’d decide to get up to do something else, more words came. It was crazy in a mad, manic way. I ended up with 3,050 words before I knew it. And I think it’s quite clever even if I say so myself. LOL. The title is Is She or Isn’t She?

Did I get the other stuff on my list done? You bet your bippy I did. Because that’s the way I roll, ya know.

12 Comments

Posted in Writing | Tags: editor, family, Fourth of July, friend, Halloween story, parents, real name, Whortleberry Press

Posted by: Author | July 4, 2012

Wordless Wednesday

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Posted in Wordless Wednesday | Tags: wordless Wednesday

Posted by: Author | July 2, 2012

Awesome Weekend In More Ways Than One

I have been struggling with my latest story. I think I have a great premise and all that jazz, but it wasn’t jelling in the actual writing. On Thursday night, I hit the 11,000 mark after a lot of struggle and at the rate of less than 1,000 words a day. I decided on Friday, when I was able to get to a mite over 13,000, that my goal for Saturday was to get 3000 more words down. I got close to 4000 and so then it was on! I decided I wouldn’t go to bed on Sunday until I hit the 20,000 mark. AND I did it! Plus some. AND shockingly, the story is now flowing better than it has at all. I know there will be clean up for the early words, but at least I have forward momentum.

The other good thing that happened is that I had a conversation with my mother! One that was more than a few words. She made complete sentences and only messed up a word or two here and there. She also asked about a friend with cancer – she couldn’t remember his name but she was almost like herself in asking about others which she was always good about. So, progress with the speech therapy is being made even though she hates it.

I also went to the movies with two friends. Now, mind you, the movie was not all that great and I kept wondering when it would be over, but I had a nice time with my friends.

ROCK ON!

8 Comments

Posted in Random thoughts, Writing | Tags: friends, mom, Movie, speech, stroke, word count, writing

Posted by: Author | June 29, 2012

Friday Fact- June 29, 2012- Drop a Dime

In the 1970s, the cost to make a call on a pay phone was a dime. My dad always told me to be sure to have one on me in case I needed to call him to come pick me up from somewhere.

The phrase drop a dime on meant to betray or inform on a cohort. This came from criminal/underworld usage when they would accuse someone of calling the police to rat them out. The pay phone had a slot where the dime would be dropped to make the call. The usage of this phrase began in the 1960s and still carries over today.

I bet ya that a lot of younger folks who only knew pay phones as quarter-eaters have no idea of the origin of this phrase. Imagine in five more years how many won’t even know what a pay phone even is other than their plan payment for their cell service.

4 Comments

Posted in Friday Facts | Tags: 1960s, 1970s, betray, call, dad, dime, Friday fact, pay phones, quarter

Posted by: Author | June 28, 2012

Watch That First Step- Or That Famous Saying “Feet First, First Time”

This is what I came home yesterday. My son said, “Mom, the pool is broke.” We had a small leak and about three weeks ago, a diver came and dove the pool to see if it could be fixed. We finally decided to just get a new liner since the last one was put in when we had the pool dug in 2000. So, by the time I get home today, the new liner should be in and the filling of the sucker started. It takes two whole days to get it full and the noise of the water running will keep me awake most of the night because it’s surprisingly loud.