My First Interview!

About a week ago, I got the best email ever. Seriously, I was grinning like it was my birthday all over again. And, that’s my favorite holiday after all. Plus, I am a huge fan of mail, snail or otherwise, so it was a pretty big day. How big? I read the email three times. That’s right. Best email ever.

The lovely, wonderful, gifted, emailer is Ruth Long  of Bullish Ink. Not only is it always entertaining to read her writing, even a grocery list I feel certain, but she wanted to interview me on her blog. I did in fact squeal.

Now, head over to her blog to check out all the awesomeness she came up with. Her questions are fantastic. Five Sentence Fiction got a bigshout out here, too!

Five Sentence Fiction - Scorching

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: SCORCHING

Source

I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

Wicked - #5SentenceFiction

With the determination of a spit ball flying from little Tommy Tucker’s grimy neon yellow straw, Lucy crossed the busy playground to where they sat, crossed legged, in a tight circle. Small hands moved quickly through the air as the evil concocted stories flew from their rose lips like granite truths. Lucy felt her cheeks flame as she closed in on the group and heard her name, spoken like a curse. She was an outcast, the new girl, and she was fine with that, but this time they had gone too far by making her brother cry. When she stopped walking they all turned to her, eyebrows cocked on smug faces that fell the moment Lucy revealed her wicked secret power.

Link up your own WICKED story here.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Lillie

Five Sentence Fiction - Wicked

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: WICKED



I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

My 22 Things

Amazing, super creative Angie Richmond has issued a challenge that I love! Check it out, and link up your own list today. This was a fun way to really think about things I want to accomplish.


How Does It Work?
22 Things is a Creative Change Challenge. By signing up, you are announcing to the world - and more importantly yourself - that you are breaking free of the long standing idea that in order to make changes in your life, you have to do BIG things. 22 Things is about making a list twenty-two small steps you can take - right now - to change your life.

My 22 Things:

1.       Develop a regular writing schedule.

2.       Go to the beach more.

3.       Allow myself to make mistakes.

4.       Give more hugs.

5.       Join a Pilates class.

6.       Ride my bike instead of driving.

7.       Read more indie authors.

8.       Finish my three quilts in progress.

9.       Get a plant and keep it alive.

10.   Spend more time without my phone.

11.   Make more lists; they work.

12.   Finish the outline for my new WIP.

13.   Edit my NaNo novel.

14.   Try new foods.

15.   Have one technology-free day a week. (Or at least an hour)

16.   Write in my journal.

17.   Spend more time with friends.

18.   Take a dance class.

19.   Stop and watch the sunset.

20.   #Wordmonger!

21.   Do a 10K run.

22.   Indulge in chocolate occasionally.

MS Awareness - What MS is to Me

March is Multiple Sclerosis awareness month and I have decided to do my part to share what MS is to me.

Multiple Sclerosis is one of many diseases that is often called an invisible illness. No one could look at me and know that I have MS. It is easily the most frustrating part of this disease. People really do say 'but you look so good' when they find out about my disease.


My most prominent MS symptoms:


-Fatigue: I am tired constantly. It's a full-body tired that never goes away no matter how much sleep I get, though naps help.

-Cognitive Fatigue: Often called brain fog. I can't always find the words I am looking for, sometimes I stutter. Learning new things is harder than it used to be. Some days I feel just stupid, but a little patience goes a long way!

-Numbness: It comes and goes in my fingers, toes, arms, legs.

-Vertigo

-Emotional Disturbances: I can be an emotional mess some days - which is sometimes helpful for a writer :) Crying for no reason, angry for no reason, laughing when nothing is funny.

-Headaches: I have one everyday, all day, have for the past three years. But, the severity changes. Most days it's just a dull hum, but every so often it demands my full attention.

-Fear: I always have the knowledge in the back of my mind that a new relapse can come on at any time. Or, that no one will want to marry someone with MS.


I have to say, even with these things, I still do most of what I want to do. I am excited about my future and I am not sad about MS. It is beyond frustrating when someone says 'why me'? Why not me? Everyone has their stuff that they deal with. MS is a lot about learning to accept a new kind of normal. Just like everyone else on earth I have good days and bad days. I just know my limits. My plans haven't changed much. I still want it all: marriage, kids, a full life. With BOOKS, lots of books :)

This is a great video about one man's journey with MS:

Five Sentence Fiction - Coincidence

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: COINCIDENCE

This week's word was chosen by the lovely Angie Richmond over at Write Me Happy. Check out her 22 Things Challenge!

I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

Five Sentence Fiction - Tattered

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: TATTERED

I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie

March: MS Awareness Month

Did you know that March is Multiple Sclerosis awareness month?

On July 08, 2008 I was diagnosed with MS but had no idea what that meant. It is a hugely misunderstood disease, but a really awesome lady,  McCall Teicher, is working hard to change that. Her efforts to raise MS awareness have really inspired me to speak up. Since 2009 I have participated in the MS Walk with my team, the Cure Crusaders. We have raised over $6000 so far and, with the help of incredibly supportive friends and family, we are still going! But, as a whole, I don’t talk about my MS with many people.

 I’ve decided that’s not the way to help.

I have a responsibility to talk about it so that it’s not such a mystery. For me MS is many different things, depending on the day. Mostly I am more fatigued than I’ve ever been in my life every day now. It’s a total body tired that makes brushing my teeth a real chore some days. When I was diagnosed I was blind in my left eye, and thankfully that sight has returned. I have Relapsing Remitting MS, which means I have some symptoms all the time, but during a relapse I develop new or worsening symptoms.

Writing is my outlet and some days the MS brain fog won’t let me write. Other days I feel better, and with the help of my amazing twitter buddies, get some serious words down! Each week in March I will post something new about MS and what it means to carry it around every day.

A few MS Facts:

-Approximately 2.5 million people worldwide have MS, 400,000 in the US.

-No two people have the same exact MS experience.

-There is currently no cure for MS.

-The body’s own defense system attacks myelin, the fatty substance that surrounds and protects the nerve fibers in the central nervous system.

-More than twice as many women as men have MS.

Source

Five Sentence Fiction - Enchanted

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: ENCHANTED

I chose this word because today is my birthday, and I am slightly fanatical about it! I love fairytales, so this is one of my favorite words.

Source

I look forward to reading everyone's five sentences. Post your sentences on your blog, and link up your post below.

Check out past Five Sentence Fiction posts here.

Also, be sure to visit everyone's FSF post

Lillie