Lisa Hendrix

I’m over at Deadly Vixens today (“We don’t bite…hard”), blogging on how to prepare your life before heading into writing crunches, whether National Novel Writing Month or a deadline dash.

Stop by and add your $.02 worth. Commenters have a chance to win one of two copies of Immortal Warrior–the last copies of Warrior that will be given away this year other than the October Contest.

Deadly Vixens is only the first of many guest blogger stops I’ll be making during the next month. Further details will be coming in the next few days.

I just received an email from an on-line pal who spotted copies of IMMORTAL WARRIOR in stacks of books about to be shelved in a mall in Michigan. She gets an ARC of the next book (Immortal Outlaw, June ‘09) for being first reporter, but the rest of you have a chance to win an ARC, as well.

Comment on this post with your first sighting, or most unusual sighting, in your area.  I’ll draw three names from those who comment by Nov. 8 and ship you an Outlaw ARC as soon as they become available next spring.

And remember:  The official release date just happens to be Election Day here in the States.  Pick up your copy of Immortal Warrior early in the day, then carry it into the polls for while you’re standing in line. Let’s start a movement:  Books and Ballots.

UPDATE 11/11/08:  Winners were picked and announced HERE, but you’re still invited to post your sightings.  I love to know where this hunk o’ burnin’ love is being found!

UPDATE 12/01/08:  Anyone who would like to do so is encouraged to also post a review at Amazon or B&N online.  Such reviews help to sell the book, and all authors appreciate you taking the time to do them.  

Order Now at Amazon

*Word of the Random Day

So, yesterday I had occasion to go out in the yard (a rare thing when I’m in deadline mode) and discovered a large pool of water by the NW corner of the house, at the place our sprinkler system originates. Plumber (NOT named Joe, or even middle-named Joe) was called, repairs were performed, just shy of $300 exchanged hands, and all was well. Right?

Wrong. This morning, we hear water running when  such sounds should not be heard.  All internal faucets are checked to be sure children have not left water running. No such luck. I put on the shoes, head outside with flashlight (that’s twice, now, I’ve been in my yard in less that 24 hours!), and step in, you guessed it, a large pool of water by the NW corner of the house.  Larger, in fact. Plumbers called again. Water shut off. Much digging. 

The 47 year old galvanized main water line has given up its rust-covered ghost, to the tune of $2200. Make that $2500 — we needed a new backflow prevention valve while we were at it.

Yesterday at 7 am we were pecunious.

Today, we are im.

*(Word of the Random Day)

The term maverick is being bandied about pretty heavily right now, and every time I hear it, I find myself thinking, “Isn’t that a yearling calf?” Now, I grew up in cow country, but we weren’t a rancher family, so I absorbed things around the edges rather than getting it full on. I wasn’t sure I was remembering it right, so I looked it up in Wikipedia.  Here’s what it (they?) had to say:

A maverick is an unbranded range animal, especially a motherless calf; it can also mean a person who thinks independently; a lone dissenter; a non-conformist or rebel.

But here’s the info on the person who was the source of the term:

Samuel Augustus Maverick (July 23, 1803–September 2, 1870) was a Texas lawyer, politician, land baron and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. His name is the source of the term “maverick”, first cited in 1867, which means independent minded. Maverick was considered independent minded by his fellow ranchers because he refused to brand his cattle. In fact, Maverick’s failure to brand his cattle had little to do with independent mindedness, but reflected his lack of interest in ranching (emphasis mine – LH)  He is the grandfather of U.S. Congressman Maury Maverick, who coined the term gobbledygook (1944).

So the original Maverick was someone who didn’t do what he knew was right because he couldn’t  care less. And then his grandson invented the term we use to describe convoluted political language.

Now that’s what you call synergy.

Swinging way off topic here (do I have a topic?) to do a public service announcement: