The End

Years ago, when I was first dipping my toes in the social media pond, I ran across Jennifer Hillier's blog and after hanging out there for a little while, followed her to Killer Chicks.  Here is where I met someone who would become one of my most awesome writing friends - JB Lynn.  Time passes and people come n go.  Eventually, JB - the only remaining original Killer Chick - invited me to join in the fun and become a Killer Chick myself.

And it has been fun.  I really have enjoyed my time here.  But all good things must end eventually.  It has been decided that the Killer Chicks blog will stop regular posts at the end of 2016.  And since the last posting day falls on a Friday, and I'm the Friday Chick, it falls to me to lay down this last post.

I guess blogs are going the way of the dinosaur.  For a while now, few people are stopping by.  Fewer people are commenting.  And while I love my fellow Killer Chicks, it's gotten to where it seems like we're talking to ourselves most days.  Fun, but not exactly productive.  JB's got a billion things going on. Karyn's busting her hump.  I'm doing what I do.  We've all got things we could be doing that are more productive than writing blog posts no one else wants to read.  You know how it goes.

It's not that we don't love our Killer Friends.  Seriously.  You've made it awesome to be here.  But I think you'll agree that 'fewer distractions = more books' is what readers really want.

To that end, we'll all be out there in the world writing books for you to enjoy.  We might stop from time to time over the next few months and post if we have anything exciting to talk about, but other than that, Killer Chicks is at an end.

Thank you for being our Killer Friends for all these years.

-B.E. Sanderson

Sale! All My Books Are 99c/.99p

Just in time for Christmas! All my books are on sale for 99c/.99p. 

US list (https://www.amazon.com/B.E.-Sanderson/e/B00TFRFEAA)

UK list (https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00TFRFEAA).

(Scroll down. The covers across the top of the pages show regular prices but the list below has the sale prices. Not sure why.)

They'll be on sale until late Tuesday (12/27) night. That way, if you still need a few things for prezzies, you can order cheap now, AND if you want some books after the holiday, you can order cheap then.  Send them to friends.  Pick up any you missed for yourself.  Have a ball. 

Happiest of Holidays to you all.   Ho ho ho.  =o)

Chip

Hey all!  I kicked my own ass yesterday helping Hubs with some necessary winter prep work, and my hands are kinda ouchy this morning.  So here's a picture instead of a long post I would have to type.

This is Chip. 

He has the teeny-tiniest antlers I've ever seen.  More than a button buck.  Less than a spike.  He just has little antler chips. Hence, Chip.  So cute.

Have an awesome weekend, Everyone!

Why I'm taking Improvisational Comedy classes (damned if I know!)

I love the reactions I get when I tell people I’m taking an Introduction to Improvisational Comedy class.

Some people have no idea what I’m talking about. I tell them that it’s “Who’s Line Is It Anyway” for rank amateurs.

Other people sort of grimace. (That’s pretty much the end of the conversation.)

A few people respond with, “That sounds like fun!”

Some people want to know “Why?”

And if they’re people who know me well, they say, “You?”

But by far my favorite reaction was from someone who knows me really well and asked, “They haven’t kicked you out for swearing?”

So here are my answers:

1) If you’re not familiar with “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” just pop it into YouTube and laugh.

2) Grimacing people should lighten up.

3) “Sounds like fun!” people should try a class of their own, because I can almost guarantee you’ll have a good time.

4) For those who ask “Why?”:

Because it’s fun and is a weekly appointment to laugh.

Because I moved to a city where I didn’t know anyone and I thought it would be interesting to meet people who don’t take themselves too seriously.

Because I like learning new things and taking on challenges that force me to grow…or die. I really did think the anxiety might kill me the first class.

Because it’s good to have interaction where characters (also known as strange things called “people”) don’t behave the way I command them to. (Believe me, if you spend all your time telling imaginary people what to do, you start to think you should be able to do the same with real live human beings.)

5) For those who say “You?” with a mixture of awe and certainty that I’ve officially lost my mind:

Yes, me. The woman who can go to an Introverts’ Anonymous Meeting  (also known as a writers conference) and be told, “You’re the quietest person I’ve ever met.” MORE THAN ONCE.

And yes, me. The person who can’t start writing a book unless she knows exactly how it ends and who’d MUCH rather make plans than do anything spontaneously, is willingly partaking in an activity where we’re constantly being reminded “Don’t think too much”.

6) As for the swearing bit…I literally curse my head off in the car rides to and from class, kind of like a pressure-valve. (Yes, I do it with my windows closed.) But yeah, I sometimes find it hard to get a line out, because I’m trying so hard not to curse.

So those are some of the reasons why I decided to take the class. Next week I’ll talk about what I’m learning in it. (It’s probably not what you think!)

Tell me Killer Friends: Do you watch Improv? Have you ever tried it? Do you too think I’ve lost my mind?

Don't Buy Me Books

I saw something on Facebook the other day.  It said: "All I want for Christmas is you... Just kidding.  There better be some books under that tree."  I read it to Hubs and we both laughed.  Then something occurred to me and I told him "Don't buy me books for Christmas.  Seriously.  You wouldn't know what I've read or what I might want to read."

I read a lot.  He sees me reading a lot.  Sometimes he asks what I'm reading.  Sometimes he just looks at me funny when I laugh out loud or snort or makes whatever noises the words spur from me.  And then I tell him what I'm reading.  Or I read the passage aloud so he can hear what I was reacting to.  But he doesn't keep track of the books and, since I read so widely, he wouldn't be able to pick out what I might want to read in the future.  Hell, I don't know what I might want to read in the future unless something about a book grabs me in some way.

So, I asked him not to buy me books. 

Maybe it's just me.  I mean, as a kid, I loved books for Christmas.  Then, though, I was too new to have read a whole lot and I wasn't exactly choosy about the books I read.  Now?  I couldn't begin to list all the books I've read. And I read widely but I'm particular about what I choose to read. 

What about you?  Do you like when someone buys you books?  How does that work - do you give them a list of what you want or let them choose for themselves?  Do you like the books other people choose for you or do you smile and nod only to leave them sitting on a shelf forever? 

You Are Enough

 The Emily McDowell Studio is a favourite site of mine.  This hangs on my office wall as a daily reminder.

This time of year can be tough for a lot of reasons! So this holiday season remember you are enough. 

The Last Month of 2016

2016 is winding down.  There are a ton of things to do in this last month, but I feel like a bear ready for hibernation.  Sort of a 'wake me up in January' kind of thing.

This, of course, has been an unusual late fall.  It hasn't even snowed a little yet where I'm at.  Which I'm not complaining out, believe me, but it is worth noting.  We usually have at least a little somethin' by the end of November.  But no.

The leaves are almost entirely off the trees now.  Finally.

The fish are finally beginning to act like 'Fall fishing' and it's almost Winter.

Not quite sure what this month will bring.  Snow?  Probably.  Christmas?  Definitely.  Albeit a truncated kind.  (I'm not feeling at all Christmasy.)  And this year will come to an end.  I know a lot of people are ready for 2016 to be over.  Eh, this hasn't been a better or worse year for me than any other.  I say, let this one end and the other begin with all hopes it will be a better coming year and not a worse one.

Does it feel like December to you?  Are you ready for this year to be over?  Excited for 2017?  What's on your agenda for this month?  For next year?