One Year Ago

Intercepted was released. I do want to let everyone know I have not stopped writing. I am trying to find a home for my work. I have one completed book and am working on two more. I need to be adopted by a nice publisher. I am a hard worker and easy to work with. I meet my deadlines and don't freak out if an editor wants me to change something. If you know of someone, let me know.

Score: Mother Nature - 1, Lois - 0

I love animals. I love to garden. Can you see where this is headed? Rabbits. They are a lot smarter than I give them credit for. I've always thought of them as cute little bunnies who are preyed upon by the stronger species. In the last decade, I have learned differently.

When I lived in Chicago and was a new mom, I didn't have time to garden at all. Yes, I helped my parents with their community garden raising vegetables, so I had training.

When we moved to Pennsylvania, I had time to garden. I learned what to plant so that rabbits and deer wouldn't eat my flowers. We lived on an acre and had a wooded back yard where deer and fox coexisted with all other creatures.

One day, while working in my home office, I noticed this rabbit carrying her babies and placing them in the front garden which consisted of colorful bushes. When I looked closely, the babies had no heads. I admit, I was grossed out. What was going on? I called my husband at work and he told me to suck it up and throw them in the trash. Nope. Not happening. Then I watched as the crows descended on the babies and this fierce mama bunny WENT AFTER THE CROWS! I had never seen anything like that before. I called my neighbor, a retired doctor, who came over and explained that foxes like to bite the heads off the baby bunnies. This mother bunny in her grief was trying to protect her babies. He told me when rabbits are provoked they will attack to protect their young. And I thought the killer rabbits in Monty Python was a joke. Ha!

Fast forward to Texas. I have a garden and so far I've had no rabbit problems until last year. They ate everything. My farmer friend said to use paprika because they don't like the smell. It didn't bother them at all. (Texans like spicy food.) Maybe they told their relatives because I have rabbits eating my grass and I haven't planted any plants yet. What?

At Lowe's, I noticed this small animal spray specifically designed for rabbits and squirrels. The scent is to drive them away and it won't hurt them. I tried it taking caution to spray the soil of the garden and the holes under the fence where the rabbits slip in. I looked to see if there were any nests in my yard but I couldn't find one. The scent was so overwhelming, I had to close the screen door and my windows.

Sure enough, the bunny came out and went flying and hopping around the yard as if it were on drugs. I had a repairman working and he stopped to watch because he had never seen anything like that before! Then it was gone. I did a happy dance thinking my problem was solved.

Wrong! It is pouring down here like a monsoon. We are to get six inches of rain. Guess what? The bunny is back, munching away because the rain has washed away the spray. Sigh. I can't win.....

Behind the Scenes

I know this book isn't selling very well, but the story comes from my heart and my experience with the LPGA.

As you know, my husband is an avid golfer and frequents a golf store in Grapevine Texas. He wanted his clubs re-gripped, so he brought them in to have that done. When they were done, the store employee called me to let me know they were ready. When I went to pick them up, one of the LPGA's leading player was there holding a contest for the longest drive. I stopped and looked around at the crowd and it tugged at my heart. There were about two hundred preteens in attendance, most of the dads (the golfer is extremely good looking) and the adoration in their eyes brought me to my knees.

I stopped what I was doing and paid attention. The LPGA player gave the girls an inspiring story of how she got started and urged the girls to never give up and follow their dreams. She insisted that they could do it.

You know girls at that age are very insecure and need role models such as she for inspiration. I was very impressed and researched her story. It is an amazing one and I'm very proud of the LPGA!

No, my story is my story and not hers but I wanted to bring the organization to everyone's attention!

Double Standards

The Sin Bin is done with the editing! I've run it through two software programs, my daughter and an angel who offered to edit it for me. It has taken me three months. I've never worked so hard on a book in my life. Maybe a term paper or two. My husband has his Masters Degree in International Relations. I typed  and edited many term papers for him which were very tedious. I gave myself a pat on the back when 'we' received an A.

In my Music Theory class while working on  my Masters, I had to write a paper comparing two Russian composers, measure by measure which turned out to be exhausting. You'd think I'd be a pro at this.

And let's not forget my daughter's term papers which we received good grades and compliments.

I think the most frustrating part of writing fiction is the strict adherence to no adverbs and passive voice. Every book I've read by popular authors are guilty of this, yet their editors don't seem to mind.

Double standards is an unfortunate way of life.