New Year's Eve

Happy New Years Eve. When the clock strikes 12 AM we will officially enter 2010!

Merry Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas from the great white north. It is -20 Celsius here in north-eastern Alberta. Even in the cold the Christmas spirit is alive and well.

Wishing all a safe and joyous holiday season,

Lacey, Ryan and Shea

Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve. No blog today because I am packing up and driving north for the next five days. I will be blogging from my parents. Everyone have safe travels this holiday season.

Happy Holidays

Wishing a Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays!) out to my blog readers. I love coming here and writing my thoughts down for you all. I hope you know how much your commitment to this blog is appreciated. 1 week until the 25th!

"Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose he knows not, though he senses it. But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people." ~Albert Einstein

Give Back

Still editing.

Franklin's Magic Christmas is playing on the television for the third time in two days. Do you remember when you could watch movies over...and over...and over? Disney movies were always a favorite. I don't know how many times I watched Cinderella and Little Mermaid. As a child I didn't have a care in the world and therefore I was lucky. There are so many children in this world who don't have enough of the basic necessities.
Today is a good day to be thankful for all we have. If you have food in the fridge and a sturdy roof over your head this Christmas you have more than millions of people around the world. Remember, if you can try to give back. We are all neighbors.

Drinking Coffee

Editing and drinking Tim's coffee. I'm having one of those too rare peaceful happy moments. I always underestimate how much time editing will actually take. I have rolled up my sleeves and jumped in.

"It's not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or whether the doer of deeds could have done them better...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust, and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and often comes up short again and again. Who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause. And who, if at best in the end, knows the triumph of higher treatment and high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his soul shall never be with those cold and timid ones, who know neither victory nor defeat." ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Back to Work

As much fun as it is to read on my Kindle I really NEED to get back to work. Taking a break to read is an important part of my writing process. It helps me to return to writing or editing with renewed focus and determination.

I Heart My Kindle

"I LOVE MY KINDLE 2!" If you are a serious reader put the Kindle on your next Christmas or birthday list. I wish all the BETA (experimental) tools available worked in Canada. A lot of the Kindle extras are not operational here but I'm sure they will be in the near future.

KINDLE 2

So excited! Tonight my husband suggested I open one of my Christmas presents early. I cannot turn down the opportunity to open a gift early. Anyway, I'm over the moon with my gift. A KINDLE 2! Canadians have only been able to purchase Kindles since November. My first purchase was Soulless, by Gail Carriger.

Is Kindness Rare?

Are you into the spirit of the holiday season? I love when some random person happily shouts, "Happy Holidays!"
When I was at Superstore today the parking lot was covered in ice and snow. As I returned to my car a lady with a loaded cart was struggling slowly towards her vehicle. As I passed her cart became stuck in the snow. I rushed (baby in arms) to grab one end of the cart and together we pushed and pulled her free. Luckily the lady ended up being parked right next to me. As I drove away I finally noticed her surprised expression. Why are people so shocked when someone is kind to them...is kindness so rare? I suppose we are taught to ignore each other. The whole, don't talk to strangers talk we receive at some time or another. Unfortunately the bad guys in the world may have ruined it for people who truly do have the best of intentions.

A kind word or helpful gesture can make a world of difference.

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." ~Dalai Lama

All YA...All the Time.

Yesterday I finished reading The Summoning. Today I finished the The Awakening, the first two installments of the Darkest Arts Trilogy written by Canadian author, Kelley Armstrong. About half-way through the first book I found it was impossible to stop reading until the last page of The Awakening.

Recently I also finished reading the Vampire Academy series, by Richelle Mead. Book II Frostbite really had me invested in the series.

My quest to read every YA urban fantasy book I can get my hands on (or have time to read) is moving along wonderfully. Now I'm a lost cause officially hooked on far more series than I'll ever have time to keep up on. Really to be 'hooked on books' is a great problem to have.

A Writer's Resolve

"Start early and work hard. A writer's apprenticeship usually involves writing a million words (which are then discarded) before he's almost ready to begin. That takes a while." ~David Eddings

"You must want to enough. Enough to take all the rejections, enough to pay the price of disappointment and discouragement while you are learning. Like any other artist you must learn your craft—then you can add all the genius you like." ~ Phyllis A. Whitney

I'm editing!

Finnish

Tervetuloa. The intensive re-write of ONE LIFE is about 85-90% complete. I taught myself a bit more Finnish commonly known Suomi (Soo-oh-mee) in Finland. Wrote about 8000 words today.

Finnish Anyone?

I am currently introducing a Finnish character Leevi (Leev-) into my story. Thank goodness for those on line English-Finnish translators.

Lock the Door, Throw Away The Key

Alright after making oatmeal muffins I'm ready to lock myself away for the evening to write. ONE LIFE is absolutely full of thrills, magic abilities, and love. It has been exciting to see where this intensive re-write has taken me.

Mary Wollstonecraft

"In every age there has been a stream of popular opinion that has carried all before it, and given a family character, as it were, to the century." ~Mary Wollstonecraft.

Power of Its Own

The ONE LIFE manuscript has taken on a power of its own. As it turns out I decided the manuscript needed significant plot revisions. Busy re-writing and more changes to come.

Can You Learn to Write?

Can one learn to be a great writer?

If one has the heart to wake up every day with the desire to put pen to paper, or fingers to keys, and has a willingness to make sacrifices to excel at their craft they can become great.

The key with mastering any craft or finding seemingly impossible success is to never give up no matter the circumstance. Quitting is not an option.

Carrie was Stephen King's first book to be published. It was his fourth written work.
A Time To Kill was John Grisham's first book to be published. It was his second written work.
It took J. K. Rowling 5 years on social assistance writing in coffee shops before she finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
Author of Twilight, Stephenie Meyer, was a young mother of three boys when, inspired by a dream, she decided to spend her nights and weekends writing.

A writer does not know if they will ever be published. Even if they never achieved an ounce of recognition for their work we'd still get up every day and write. Why? Because writing becomes a part of your soul...a part of your legacy.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween. Hopefully there will be droves of little ghosts, goblins and fairies visiting because we have A LOT of candy to give away.

U of A Interview 2

U of A Interview

I had a surprise in my mail box. My interview with the University of Alberta Augustana Alumni is printed and looks awesome! The flat sheet should be available on-line soon. I will try to scan and post here and on: http://www.laceystephens.com/.

Reminder: This blog address will change to: www.laceystephens.blogspot.com on Friday. If you have trouble connecting please visit my website and click on "Blog & Twitter".

Sookie Stackhouse Series

Finished reading all the novels in the Sookie Stackhouse Series. Now I have to wait until MAY 2010 for the next book. May can't come fast enough!

Diana Gabaldon

On Saturday, October 17th at 10 AM Diana Gabaldon will be speaking at the Vertigo Theatre in Calgary. Ms. Gabaldon is world renowned for her historical fiction series Outlander. I read all her books (except the newest release) and thoroughly enjoy her work.

The event is sold out but if you show up at the door tickets may become available.

http://www.wordfest.com/index.php/events/296-41.html

WordFest

Reminder: WordFest is this week in Calgary. http://www.wordfest.com/

The annual Banff-Calgary International Writer's Festival is happening from Oct. 13 to 18 at venues from here to the Rocky Mountains.

First Snow

I can't find my camera. It's snowing outside! Huge fluffy flakes are tumbling out of the sky covering the ground, homes, and cars. Ahh! Winter! Yes, this is my reaction every year.

Case of the Frosty Window

There was frost on the windshield of my car this morning...NO! Frost means cold. Cold means snow. Snow means -30. -30 means staying inside for days on end. Staying inside for days end means little sunlight. Little sunlight means winter. Soon winter will mean darkness by 4:30 PM. If I close my eyes and count to three maybe it won't be true. *Close eyes, deep breath* Didn't work, there is still frost on my car.

I don't want to shovel the walk or dress my child in five layers of clothing. Every year, around this time, I go through the same motions of denial, dread and fear. Yes folks, winter has almost arrived.

Believe in Yourself

A message for all writers who stay up all night. For those who never take a day off. For the many who never waiver while striving to attain their dreams. To find success in anything you must believe your highest goals are attainable.

Hard work and sacrifice is an inevitable part of any great achievement.

In Memory of 9/11

In memory of all the lives that were lost tragically on September 11, 2001.

The moment 'terror' took on a new meaning. The moment we were sure the world would never be the same. The moment we all shed a tear. The moment we believed humans were capable of true evil. The moment we all banned together. The moment we will never forget.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kneM2MgQWx4

On September 11, 2001 I was a freshman in university. My next door neighbor (in dorms) woke me up to watch CNN Live. Together we cried as the second plane hit the second World Trade Centre. We felt horrified and helpless as we watched both buildings tumble to the ground. It was difficult to believe this terrible act was happening live on television. Classes at university were cancelled.
Today is a day for reflecting.

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." ~Mother Teresa

Quote Day

Never give up. Unyielding determination is the only reason people have achieved feats once deemed impossible.

"Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity."~ Louis Pasteur

"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." ~ Babe Ruth

Determination

"Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal." --Vincent Lombardi

Quote Day!

These quotes are helping me push on. Hope they can inspire someone out in the e-world as well.

Fall seven times, stand up eight. --Japanese Proverb

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. --Newt Gingrich

There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream. --Author Unknown

I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday. --Author Unknown

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!!

"Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope." --Bill Cosby

"I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich." --M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter

Blog Updates

New design for A Day in My Shoes. Hope you like it. The black Sketcher in the title is an actual shoe I own.

Comment Issue Resolved

You should be able to post comments now. I've been e-mailed a few times from people who wanted to leave comments.

Ciao,
Lacey

Awesome Quote About People Who Dare to Dream

"All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible." --T.E. Lawrence

Sunshine!

Awesome day! Shea and I were out in the sunshine. I had to wait in a humongous line-up at Tims for my iced cappuccino after deciding to be adventurous and stray away from my daily double-double.

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable." --Joseph Addison

Latest Obsession, Books

My latest obsession is Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Chewy Bars. They are so good. YUM!

Yesterday, I read 3/4's of the first book in Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments Trilogy (and stayed up way too late). I don't know what I was expecting but the book is awesome! I highly suggest reading City of Bones. The first in the Urban Fantasy trilogy which if filled to the brim with action and romance. The main character is a bit naive but likable so far. I hope to finish Book I tonight.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

To my mom and all other moms.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

Inspiration

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.
~William Arthur Ward

LOVE Coffee Shops

I'm sitting in my local coffee shop (not Tim Hortons) and making impressive progress with ONE LIFE. I love the atmosphere, the conversation, and the people. This is where I'll be for most of the day lost in the scents and sounds with my fantastical story.

So...this is my first blog.

Welcome to my blog. The new place to be wowed by my incredible humor (I wish). Feel free to post a note.

This is the place to keep up to date with what I have in the pipeline personally and with my daily writing activities.

I will be in attendance at the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association Conference in Seattle, WA July 30th - August 2nd.
Next week, I will begin the final intensive edit to my manuscript REVERIE, the first of the Knights of the Quadri Trilogy a young adult epic-fantasy. This work has taken up my every free moment for months.
Other projects in the works:
Book II: ILLUSION of REVERIE 15,000/80,000
Book III: REFLECTION in REVERIE 5000/80,000
ONE LIFE (YA/Contemporary Fantasy) Under Development/70,000