Sunday, December 27, 2009

Bits and Pieces

Last Words on the Roku Digital Video Player

I watched 88 Minutes on my television screen last night via the Netflix Instant Play Queue and our new Roku Player. I give the process and convenience a thumbs up. The only thing that might be a problem for some viewers is that most of the new releases I looked up on the Netflix site were not yet available in streaming format. Doesn't matter to me, as I have lots of older movies in my DVD queue that do have the instant play option.


Good Reads
from Colorado Authors

This week I read Mike Befeler's second Paul Jacobson Geezer-Lit Mystery, Living With Your Kids is Murder and Amy Kathleen Ryan's YA novel, Vibes. Loved them both. Note that Amy has a new book coming out in early 2010: Zen and Xander Undone.


Book Contests for Readers from Mystery Writers of America

Just a reminder. Mystery Writers of America gives books away every month in a contest for readers. You still have time to enter for December.


Harlequin Worldwide Mystery at eHarlequin.com

Harlequin Worldwide Mystery will publish The Prairie Grass Murders in mass market paperback in February. The book will only be available at eHarlequin.com.


Progress or Lack Thereof

A month ago I listed Five Things I Want to Accomplish in the Next 39 Days. I am proud to say I've upheld the writer's tradition and procrastinated to the point I can now be certain I will fail on all five items. I will admit I'm close to finishing the first draft of the suspense novel, but it now looks as though I'll be about 10,000 words short on December 31st. (Shrug) Whatever.

11 comments:

The Old Silly said...

Almost fell off my chair laughing (and relating) to that LAST paragraph! LOL, hope you had a Jolly, Merry Christmas, Patricia.

Marvin D Wilson

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm with Marvin - the twist had me laughing out loud!!

Patricia Stoltey said...

We had a lovely, snow-covered Christmas, Marvin, with no company and no travel.

And Jemi, the thought of you and Marvin laughing out loud made me start laughing. Must be contagious!

Elspeth Futcher said...

Add me to the choir of laughter, but mine is also somewhat rueful. I have procrastinated like the natural I am. I have written, but not nearly as much as I should have.

Elspeth

Elspeth Futcher said...

Wow, there's nothing like that special feeling you get when you see a glaring grammatical error right after you hit 'post'. *hides blushing face in shame*

Anonymous said...

Patricia - Just wanted you to know there is an award for you on my blog.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

That is TOO funny about the procrastinating. Ha! Me too.

What the heck is a Roku player? I'm feeling really behind the times now. I've been a Netflix subscriber before...

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

Mason Canyon said...

Look at it this way, Patricia. You've got a good start on five things you can finish in 2010. I'm with all the rest, thanks for the laugh, as well as the other pieces of information.

Kerrie said...

I agree with Mason, you have a good start on Five goals--just push the deadline out a little bit. :-)

Anonymous said...

Hail to the Writer's Tradition, one of the few sure things in the world today. But there's always New Year's resolutons, which we as writers can use to counter procrastination and get things done. Right?

Stephen Tremp

Patricia Stoltey said...

Elspeth -- Grammar error? I don't see no grammar error. LOL

Margot -- Thank you so much. The Inspiring Blogger Award is lovely. I most definitely will post it here.

Mason, Karen, Kerrie, and Stephen. You're right, of course -- my resolutions are ready-made. And I love the idea of a moving deadline. Probably wouldn't work with my publisher, but I can be very flexible when the deadlines are self-inflicted.