A Word Please

I used to have a good memory. What a great little gadget that was to have! Compact, yet ever-expanding. Always with me, gathering information, retaining even the nonsensical things for future reference.

I never gave much thought to using my memory. I never had to. But as I was taking for granted the effectiveness of my memory, it somehow malfunctioned. Did a wire come loose? Did it run out of fuel? I don’t know and I can’t seem to find the owner’s manual.

I now forget where I’m going when I’m in my car and apparently halfway to my destination. What did I go in to the kitchen for? Where are my keys? What was I saying?

Here I am, caught once again without my memory. And such an obvious thing to be without! I now have two choices. I can grow angry at the memory that has chosen such an awkward time to desert me. Yet, what good would that do? The anger will not bring back my memory. In fact, anger only serves to frustrate my memory, causing it to retreat further from my grasp.

Therefore, I have to smile, say goodbye to the thought that escaped, and have faith that the one that replaces it will be even better. Or at least make sense. And maybe I can hold on to it long enough to write it down.

According to December’s Prevention magazine, the risk of heart attack increases 40% in the morning. Just because you get out of bed, your risk of heart attack skyrockets! This must explain my natural aversion to mornings. We can solve the whole problem (and save a lot of lives) by staying in bed until noon.

I just finished the first edit of my upcoming novel – Miami Snow. My desk chair and computer screen are beginning to feel like torture devices!

I recently finished a book called Criminal Injustice In America: Essays By A Career Cop by Marshall Frank. A retired homicide detective, Frank holds nothing back. His writing is conversational and, while he does back up what he says with statistics, it wasn’t one of those books that’s mired down in facts and figures. I found his arguments truly compelling. And I love that someone who spent his life working within the system is willing to stand up and talk about what’s wrong with it.

If you’re interested in our justice system, how it works, and why it doesn’t, I highly suggest this book. Actually, I’d love to see everyone read it!

Did you know America ranks the lowest in education but the highest in drug use? It’s nice to be number one, but we can fix that. All we need to do is start the war on education. If it’s anywhere near as successful as our war on drugs, in no time we’ll all be hooked on phonics.

~ Leighann Lord

I’m working on a few minor revisions and some editing of my newest novel, Miami Snow. My brain seems to lack the necessary discipline today, which is making this project all the more tedious. I found the only cure for my distractibility is ice cream.

I have generated 2 coupon codes for $1.00 off on each of two of my novels in e-book format on Smashwords! You can choose a variety of download options, including a PDF to read on your computer or a formatted file for your Kindle.

Go to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/DarciaHelle to read about and/or purchase the e-books.

The codes are: EF36S for No Justice and XR26J for Beyond Salvation.

Both codes expire on November 30, 2009.

Throughout November, you can enter my monthly book giveaway to win a copy of my suspense novel Hit List!

This contest is open to everyone 16 and older in the U.S. and Canada. Please enter only once per person.

Read an excert of Hit List: www.QuietFuryBooks.com/hitlist.html
Enter the contest: www.QuietFuryBooks.com/contests.html

Good luck!