The Contest Ends Tomorrow
Or...Happy Birthday to Simon LeBon

Yes, it's an odd way to celebrate a lead singer's birthday, but we writers are odd that way. All of you writers visiting the site know this about yourselves. All of you readers visiting the site are probably figuring this out, if you didn't already realize it. Welcome to you all.

The explanation: If you're stopping in after reading about the contest over at Author Island, welcome Author Islanders! It's a pleasure to have you stopping by to celebrate Simon LeBon's birthday, which, I do realize you're not really doing. It's a pleasure to have you stopping by to check out a little information about my epic fantasy novel, Choices Meant for Gods. Leave your happy comment in the comments link below and I'll be sure you're in the drawing tomorrow, Saturday, the 27th, Simon's actual birthday, and we'll see who the lucky reader is who gets a signed, hard-cover, first edition copy of the book, in a fabulous goodie basket. Sound cool?

Now! The book! The info is at www.authorisland.com under fantasy under my name: Sandy Lender. (Yes, I know, you wanted to read it here if you didn't come from Author Island, but the point is to support each other, so you get to link or you get to come back here Sunday. Bwuahahahahaha.) Choices Meant for Gods is a fantasy novel in the style of Tolkien, Goodkind (before he got preachy), Lackey, and the folks who like to get you totally involved in the characters for a long time. In other words, this is the beginning of a trilogy. You can read reviews and pick up a copy at BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com. (the Amazon one has free shipping)

Enjoy!

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Author Island, fantasy novel, contest, Tolkien, Goodkind, Simon LeBon

Fast Communique
Or...The Dragon requests your patience with this interruption

For those of you who know me and have been trying to reach me via phone...umm...yeah...the cell phone is dead and I'll be dealing with that issue this week (in my spare time). I'll contact you with the new number (also in my spare time) probably by the weekend.

No, I'm not dead, but I appreciate the calls to the office to ask. Cracks me up, actually. Chris, the e-mail subject line was worth a gold star.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. And I'm back to pushing editorial for five magazines that are on deadline. ;) You can read my book while I'm working. Pick up the epic fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods at Amazon.com today!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods

Writer's Guide
Or...let adversity inspire the character forming within you

I know I've said this here before, but we creative types are at our absolute best when we're in absolute hell. Guess where I am right now. It's horrible. But I'm using it for my best. And I want to share it with you other writers out there because this is the absolute best time to write...and I have more ideas flowing through me than you can shake a stick at.

Here's a snapshot: A fellow in one of the online groups I belong to is sharing a major financial blow that's been leveled at him. Another fellow has been dealing with losing his grandchildren through an insane and mind-boggling judicial system fiasco. Freelance workers are causing me angst up against multiple deadlines at work. Someone I thought was going to be a pillar of friendship in my life has bowed out - exit stage left. Someone else who vowed to stay with me for better or worse is causing major headaches instead of the kind and gentle "exit stage left" that I would prefer from him. An exciting and uplifting trip I had planned for a few weeks from now has fallen through due to unforeseen circumstances. A variety of financial surprises have hit me in the past 72 hours. The landlord of my new abode isn't taking care of things to make the new abode properly livable, yet I'm trying to live there. A girlfriend who needs more than I can possibly give right now is hurting emotionally and I cannot physically get to her... I'm quite literally stunned by it all. What visitors to the site might find interesting (or horrific) is that I'm not listing everything that's gone wrong this week. (but wait, there's more)

Here's the point: I'm listing all this crapola because I know there are people out there going through worse than this. Good God, I pity you. Seriously. I can't imagine getting out of bed under the weight you're under. It was hard enough for me this morning, wondering what new and horrific surprise I'd find awaiting me when I opened my eyes or walked out into the living area of the apartment... So far, so good. Again, we can use all this pain. At some point, it all has to get better. It all has to improve. So let's take notes now and learn what we can from our reactions to these stressors. Character is forming within us at the moment, and the type of character we form out of this adversity says much about the heart within each of us.

While this character-forming is going on, here's something fabulous to inspire you writers visiting the site today:

"Any change, any loss, does not make us victims. Others can shake you, surprise you, disappoint you, but they can't prevent you from acting, from taking the situation you're presented with and moving on. No matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation, you can always do something. You always have a choice and the choice can be power." -- Blaine Lee

Here's wishing you much power in your writing...

"Some days, I just want the dragon to eat everyone in my path."

Tags: writers guide, writing tip

Overwhelm Me

Or...The Dragon asks the universe for one more challenge

Go ahead. Lay it on me. I can take it.

I DARE YOU.

You can read Nigel's post over at Nigel Presents Sandy Lender (http://sandylender.blogspot.com) to get the full impact here, but, suffice it to say, I'm losing my mind. Before I go completely 'round the bend, I wanted to post a note here to say "HELLO!" to all the lovely folks checking in from Author Island. Don't you all just rock the house? I'll post again shortly. I have to tell you all how coo-el Context 20 was...

And I have to let you know about the upcoming ren art fair in Naples.

And I have to give you my room number in the local looney bin...

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Nigel Presents Sandy Lender, Context 20