My New Home On The Web... Visit Me There!

My new Web site: Thomma Lyn Grindstaff, Novelist.

My new blog (also accessible from my Web site): Tennessee Text Wrestling.

I'm starting fresh at the new blog, and I won't be updating this blog anymore. But it will remain on the internet landscape as a repository for TL's Old Stuff.

What are you waiting for? :) Check out my New Stuff, at the links above. And please update your bookmarks, blogrolls, and feeds.

Forward and onward!

Stand By...

...big changes are afoot!

I'm working on my author's website, and I'll be moving to a new blog. When I launch my new internet home, I'll make an announcement here, so watch this space.

Happy Day!

Today, I received the marvelous and oh-so-welcome news that Black Lyon wants to publish my novel, Mirror Blue! I'm thrilled -- what an exciting milestone on my writing journey.

You might be wondering what else I've been up to. Well, I have all kinds of new developments in the works. Watch this space for updates on Mirror Blue and related news!

In the meantime, I'll leave you with pictures from a recent hike. This lovely waterfall is known as the Blue Hole. The day of the hike was fairly warm, but two days before, we had heavy snow, hence the ice surrounding the waterfall.

Progress, or Lack Thereof

Two words: Heart's Chalice. Yup, the book of my heart I've been wrestling with for almost a year. Soon, I will dive into third-draft revisions, but I have a confession to make: I've burned myself out. So I'm taking a little sabbatical.

In fact, this week, I've been on sabbatical from fiction-writing, period, so that my burned-out neurons can regenerate. But I mustn't stay away from it too long. I need to get back in the writing saddle: work on journals for my two main characters and brainstorm ideas for Heart's Chalice revisions.

In the meantime, I've been playing piano, hiking, critiquing, and working on other interesting things. Never a dull moment. Not for me. I don't know the meaning of the word "bored."

It snowed yesterday, so of course, chilly temperatures notwithstanding, I had to go outside and play in it (i.e., hike in the mountains). Here are some pictures of the forest and of the frozen pond.

Maelstrom Valentine's Day Contest

My friend Ann Pino has written a delightfully diabolical novel, Maelstrom, about a rock band that is made up of a genie, a vampire, a zombie, an incubus, and a fairy. And their band manager is human! As you can imagine, there's never a dull moment, *grin*.

On Maelstrom's web site, Ann is posting flash fiction extras about the band's shenanigans and reviews of the band's concerts. Go check 'em out -- they're great fun!

And she's having a Valentine's Day Contest: Win a Date with Bo! Bo is Maelstrom's bass player, and he happens to be the incubus of the group. Winners will receive Valentine's Day candy and will either get to guest-blog about their date with Bo, or if writing isn't your thing, Ann will write a story about you and Bo. Go here for details!

Here's more info from Ann: "To anyone concerned about the 'date with an incubus' contest, it's quite within the rules to have the story be one of mistaken identity, getting stood up, or some other mishap. A funny story is preferred, but not required."

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Heart's Chalice news: Before diving into third-draft revisions, I'm taking a breather, brainstorming on how to tighten up my story. In the meantime, I've decided to journal as Laurel and Robert, my two main characters, in order to get a better feel for their mindsets, their backstory, and their voices.

So I'm taking a break without dropping the ball! I think the journaling exercises will do me good, give me perspective, and ultimately make my story better.

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The mountains, as ever, are gorgeous and rejuvenating for me on all levels. Here are some recent hiking pictures:

Lana Moses Interviews Trevor Wolff!

Okay, to bring you up to speed (if you aren't already), Trevor Wolff plays bass in my friend Susan Helene Gottfried's fictional band, ShapeShifter.

Lana Moses, Trevor Wolff Groupie Extraordinaire (I first wrote about Lana here), adores ShapeShifter, but she especially adores Trevor. That's why she was ecstatic when he agreed to an interview! So without further ado, I present a star-struck Lana interviewing the guy who never fails to make her heart (and any stadium) go thumpety-thumpety-thump.

Lana: Oh, I'm so psyched to be talking to you again, Trevor! Okay, first question. What made you want to be in a heavy metal band?

Trevor: Mitchell. That loser would sit around and dream of playing his guitar in a band. He'd still be sitting in his parents' bedroom, dreaming, if it weren't for me.

Lana: What attracted you to playing bass?

Trevor: Mitchell said it was the easiest to play. And the hardest to find when you were looking for guys for your band. That meant that no matter how bad I sucked, if ShapeShifter didn't work out, there'd always be someone desperate enough to let me in.

Lana: What inspires you to make and play music?

Trevor: Money. Girls. All the perks. I'm not exactly doing it for my health ifyouknowwhatI mean. Which, in fact, you don't. You haven't read the book yet.

Lana: Please take good care of yourself, Trevor! And I hope everybody will be able to read that book soon. So, what would you like your fans to get out of ShapeShifter's music?

Trevor: A good lay?

I have to look around when I say things like that. Mitchell likes to smack the back of my head and remind me to be nice. That's because I don't like to get deep and the real answer here is a deep one. Anyone who listens to the band and doesn't come away feeling better has missed the point.

Lana: I agree with all my heart. You guys lift me up totally, even when I'm feeling like total crap. Hey, what can I say -- some people say to follow your bliss; I follow you. *grin*. Okay, next question: what bands influenced ShapeShifter's sound?

Trevor: Let's see... Rat Catcher, Sammy Spencer, Terry Fantillo, Walter Cichewski. All the usual suspects.

Lana: When you're on the road, what do you most like to do for fun?

Trevor: Play with girls like you, Lana. You keep me from being bored. Ever. A bored Trevor is a dangerous thing.

Lana: Mmm, play! I love to play. Okay, tell me about one of your weirder experiences on the road.

Trevor: Look. When you're in a band with the likes of Mitchell, Daniel, and Eric, every last fucking thing is weird. Like the time we were staying in this hotel that didn't have a restaurant or room service or anything like that, so we had to walk across a couple of streets to get to one of those family-style places, who serve breakfast all day long for ridiculously low prices that make your per diem actually make sense.

Anyway, there's the four of us and it's windy and we've all got this long heavy metal hair, right? Some asshole truck driver thought we were chicks and invited us to see the party in the back of his cab.

None of us swing that way but if anyone might not get grossed out by that idea, it's Daniel. He's the one who finally yanked his shirt off to show off his chest hair. That was the only way the trucker would buy we weren't four really flat chicks.

Eric said that was one of the first people he'd met who'd be improved by some of the shit the drug-sniffing dogs come look for when we cross into Canada.

Lana: gigglesnort, gigglesnort!! What do you most like to do when you're not playing, touring, or recording?

Trevor: You, Lana.

Lana: Ooooooh! *huge grin* Tell me about one of your most memorable shows and why it's memorable for you.

Trevor: There was the night Mitchell fell off the stage and broke his nose. That was a good one. Or the night he fell off the stage early on and broke his guitar and he and I had to figure out how to get him another one.

There was the night you first showed up. Think I forgot about that? How we showed up at sound check and there you were, green eyes all glittery like you were stoned, only you weren't. And so shy, shit. Like you thought I'd bite you right there if you said two words to me. You thought I didn't see you, Lana babe, but I sure as shit did. Told the crew to keep an eye on you, make sure nothing happened or I'd sic Mitchell on them. I could tell right from the start, Lana dear, you were special.

Lana (giddy with joy): You remember. Oh wow. Just wow. (pause to regain her composure) Okay, what's your advice for aspiring heavy-metal musicians? I've thought of taking up guitar myself.

Trevor: Ask Daniel. Trevor Wolff doesn't give advice.

Lana: Do you guys read all your fan mail? Even the love poetry that Sharla and I slip you and Mitchell?

Trevor: Babe, we fucking sleep with those poems. Well, I do. I can't speak for the big idiot except to say he's a big idiot. Who's probably eyeing the back of my head right now, but so fucking what? You've got to live every now and then.

Lana: How does it feel to be so incredibly delicious?

Trevor: Why don't you tell me?

Lana: You're better than a dark chocolate brownie with chocolate ice cream and a chocolate-covered cherry on top. Infinitely. And I'm curious: do you still have that lock of my hair I gave you at that concert a year ago?

Trevor: Now, why wouldn't I?

Lana: Who's your favorite groupie? Please say me. *smile*

Trevor: Come closer and let me show you, okay? We'll start with that tat on the back of your neck and go from there.

Ooooooooooh, Lana's swooning... we'll let them share a *ahem* private moment. *wink wink, nudge nudge*

Want more Trevor? You can learn more about him and ShapeShifter at Susan's site, West of Mars, or at her blog West of Mars - The Meet and Greet.

And you can get to know Trevor and the guys especially well by reading The Demo Tapes, a delightful collection of outtakes from Susan's blog. Don't miss this jewel of a book. Trevor and the guys will make you laugh; they'll make you cry. They'll make you think. And they'll touch your heart.

Tagged: Have You Ever?

My sweet friend Maya tagged me for a meme. I'm to bold the things I've done or will admit to! :)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (I assume hiking up them counts?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (keeping fingers crossed)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (can I count fish I didn't catch myself?)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Tagging: Anybody who wants to play!

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It's snowy here in East Tennessee. *singing*: "Hiking in a Winter Wonderland." Cold, but so beautiful. And don't worry; I bundle up well.











And I just had to draw this with my hiking pole: a Snow Cat! Looks kind of like my kitty, Marilyn MonREOW (pictured below the Snow Cat). Only Marilyn is much, much warmer (she's on my lap right now, *smile*).