Jennifer Becton's Blog, page 12

My blog has been quiet for a while. I’m sorry about that.

My horse Darcy got sick at the beginning of the year, and she was diagnosed with Pars Pituitary Intermedia Disfunction (PPID or Cushing’s Disease). Basically, part of her pituitary gland is malfunctioning, causing her body too much of the hormone cortisol. That means she’s in danger of laminitis (a really painful hoof problem), insulin resistance, and all sorts of other unpleasant things. The condition is incurable, but it is treatable with medication, diet, and exercise. If you are curious about PPID, check this website.

Photo by Cherie Steele Photography

A lot of my extra time has been spent researching PPID, horse feed, medications, and making sure I’m doing the best I can for my Diva.

Despite this big distraction, I’ve been keeping up with my book writing. This month, I’ll be focusing on my modern Austen short story based on Sense and Sensibility.

The post Too Quiet? I’m Still Writing appeared first on Becton Literary.

Rest in peace, Alan Rickman. You will live forever on our screens.

*I haven’t seen any of the Harry Potter movies. I understand he’s great in them.

Die Hard: This was Alan Rickman’s first movie role, and I watched it for the first time this holiday season. Forget Bruce Wills. This has Alan Rickman at his evil best. (Plus he does an American accent. Do we really sound like that to British people? Lord, I hope not.)

Sense and Sensibility: He was Colonel Brandon. Need I say more?

Galaxy Quest: Alan Rickman plays a “serious actor” who has been reduced to attending fan conventions for a cheesy TV show called Galaxy Quest. Then, he goes to space where he meets a group of aliens who believe their TV show was real history. (And now I must watch this movie again.)

King of the Hill: Did you know Alan Rickman did the voice of King Phillip for a Ren Faire episode of King of the Hill? He did his American accent in this one too.

from KOTH wikia

Robin Hood Price of Thieves: As the Sheriff of Nottingham, Rickman is delicious and evil. And funny.

Bonus:

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With the completion of my first series on the horizon, I started to mourn the ending. I love Julia and Vincent and don’t want to let them go! I wrote a blog post about the possibility of continuing the Southern Fraud series beyond book 6 and got lots of great input from readers in the comments section and on Facebook. I’m grateful to everyone who shared their thoughts about the future of the series. I took time over the holidays to think about how I wanted to proceed, and here’s what I’ve decided:

The Holidays with Jane series of short stories will continue as planned. This year, we’ll release a summer collection and a Thanksgiving collection.
“The Marriage Fraud” is on hold and may come out in 2017. I haven’t decided yet.
During the first half of 2016, I plan to release the first book in my paranormal mystery series. This will be a series of shorter–but still full-length–novels. More on that come.
During the second half of 2016, I intend to publish Sunset Clause, which will be the last novel in the Southern Fraud Thriller series.
My new Mercer Murder series will debut in 2017. It will focus on Tripp Carver and deal with some of the fallout in Mercer after the events of Sunset Clause. While it won’t be a continuation of the Southern Fraud series in the traditional sense, it will take place in the same world and follow the stories of many of the characters. I think that will be the best of both worlds.

So that’s the plan…for now. It seems like my schedule is always in flux, but I’ll do the best I can to publish two short stories, one shorter novel, and one longer novel in 2016.

I’d better get writing!

The post 2016 Publishing Plan appeared first on Becton Literary.

To usher in 2014, I wrote an anti-resolution post, and I’d like to update that for 2016.

Below is the text of that post. Scroll down to see this year’s additions.

2014

I had a post about my resolutions for 2014 all ready to go, but I tossed it in the virtual trash can. I hate New Year’s resolutions. HATE them.

Why? What’s your problem, Becton?

My problem isn’t with the concept of resolving to improve something about yourself or your lifestyle. And it’s not with deciding to make these goals at the beginning of a new page on the calendar.

My problem is with the time frame: 1 year. That’s:

12 months or

365 days or

8765.81 hours or

525949 minutes or

3.156e+7 seconds or

3.156e+10 milliseconds or

Yes, I could go on. I found a time calculator on Google.

A year is a long time, and usually resolutions are big. (Ex: I resolve to eat healthier and publish 14 books this year.) I have to wait 1 year to attain my goals. That’s a long time. (See the breakdown above.) I cannot celebrate until I have eaten healthier in a flawless fashion for 365 days and published all 14 books.

That ain’t right, people!

One of the most valuable things I learned while helping write Riding Fear Free is that all people focus so intently on the end goal that they forget all about the small steps necessary to attain to the goal. They get depressed when they don’t instantaneously succeed at the BIG goal. How do you counter that? By celebrating every single success, each small step that leads to the goal. That doesn’t mean you go out and buy a new toy every time, but you take a moment to acknowledge that you completed the next step. Stop and enjoy!

And what’s more, you might have one goal at the beginning of the year, but by June, you might have changed your mind. Why? According to Dwight V. Swain, it’s because “you yourself change in the interim between the time when inspiration first becomes apparent and the later date.” (Swain, Techniques of the Selling Writer, 280.)

And I still haven’t said a word about what happens when we inevitably fail to live up to our goals. Because I’m totally eating Reese’s Peanut Butter Hearts for Valentine’s Day. That doesn’t fit into the eating-healthy resolution. What if I don’t publish 14 books? Well, too bad. Better luck next year. This year was a big fat failure.

Making realistic long-term goals is not inherently bad, but once those goals are made, the focus must shift to small steps that lead to the big goal.

So my resolutions for the year of the horse are to celebrate each step that leads toward my goals and to move past any mistakes without beating myself up about them. As Anne Shirley said in Anne of Green Gables, “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” Don’t forget that every year is fresh with no mistakes in it. That means you have

12 months or

265 days or

8765.81 hours or

525949 minutes or

3.156e+7 seconds or

3.156e+10 milliseconds

of new beginnings.

2016

Another new year, and I still hate Ye Olde New Year’s Resolutions, the traditional resolutions. You know the ones. Those that send everyone to the stores to purchase cute new workout clothes to motivate them and have them rummaging through the pantry to throw out all the junk food, only to find the workout gear hanging on the unused treadmill and the junk food back in the pantry 30 days later.

Despite my railing against Ye Olde Resolutions, I do set long-term goals and make plans for the coming year. After all, a new year is a good time to take the long look, to decide how you’d like to use your time. But Ye Olde New Year’s Resolutions are often too vague and undefined or too long-term in scope.

Here are some tips for planning without falling into the resolution trap.

Make your goal concrete. A lot of resolutions fall into the “What does that even mean?” category. Like saying, “I plan to eat healthier in 2106.” What does that mean? Healtheir than what? Will you eat only salad? Or will you set a calorie limit? Become vegan? Set a specific goal, like replacing one meal a day with a healthier option.
Make the goal attainable. Much as I wish I could get on the NYT Best Sellers list, it’s out of my hands. Other than writing and publishing, I cannot get a book on the list through my own power.
Don’t start with your goal. Focusing on the big goal is not only daunting, but impossible. You can’t decide to change, and change instantly. It’s a process. As John Lyons says, “If you start with your goal, you end with a wreck.”
Break the goal down into smaller chunks and reward yourself for each step. A goal that cannot be attained for 365 days doesn’t offer much in the way of motivation. After you make your long-term goal, ask, “What is the next smallest step I can take toward my goal?” Focus on that.
Treat every day like New Year’s. You are going to make some mistakes along the way to your goal. You’ll eat a candy bar or get sick and not exercise for a week. Or you’ll misuse your time. That doesn’t mean you have failed. Remember that not only are you moving along the calendar year, but you are also starting something new each morning. You can decide every day to set and attain a goal, regardless of what happened yesterday or a week ago.

 

 

Happy 2016, everyone!

The post A Year of New Beginnings appeared first on Becton Literary.

As we head into 2016, let’s take a look back at 2015.

1. RV Camping/ Glamping: This is how to camp if you have allergies! In March, my family took a camping trip to the mountains, and I was hesitant about the enterprise. After all, I can barely go outside in pollen season without repercussions. Forget about being outside 24-7 and inhaling pollen, fire smoke, and mold. Achoo! I didn’t want to ruin the trip for everyone, but having an RV with air conditioning was a big help. I was able to get a break from outdoor allergens overnight, and I ended up having a great time. We’re going glamping again this year.

2. Beach Trips: We are fortunate to have relatives who allow us to use the beachfront condo on occasion. I love the beach. This year, we got to swim with wild dolphins right offshore. Seriously, do I need to continue?

3. The Walking Dead: The Walking Dead has been my favorite TV show for a few years now, and 2015 was no exception. I especially love Carol’s evolution through the years. From ironing in the zombie apocalypse:

to this:

4. Riding Fear Free: This year, I made some big strides in cantering my horse. I’ve been certified fear-free for a while, but this year, Darcy and I really got our cantering groove on. Neither one of us gets anxious about it, and we can lope around on a loose rein without tension. It’s so fun!

Not cantering or clear, but I love the harmony in this picture.

5. Disposing of the Unwanted: This was a year of purging, removing, and cleaning out things I no longer want or need in my life. I went through closets and sold or donated clothes I didn’t wear, even if they cost a lot of money. I threw out expired cosmetics and lotions. (I know. Gross.) I even managed to part with certain items that I’d always held onto for sentimental reasons (I can’t even remember what they were now) and gifts that I’d always felt obligated to keep. Now, when I look in my closets and cabinets, it’s like going shopping and finding only things I truly love.

Included in this purge was my participation in unhealthy, stressful relationships. We are taught to forgive each other, but that doesn’t mean we have to continue participating in the relationship that is hurting  us. Forgive and let it go. That’s what I did in 2015. Letting go of things and people may sound like something to mourn, but of all the changes I made in 2015, this was the best.

What were your favorite moments, memories, or changes in 2015? Tell me in the comments below.

The post Top 5 Favorites in 2015 appeared first on Becton Literary.

Psych: The Polarizing Express. Shawn has his own special version of It’s a Wonderful Life. Kinda. This episode pays homage to Austin Powers, includes a Nick Nolte joke, and has an awesome Grinch Easter egg.

The Grinch steals a present in the background.

Chuck: Chuck versus Santa Claus. Chuck has to save himself and everyone at the Buy More. Casey gets a toe shot off, Jeff and Lester save the day (sort of), and guest stars include Michael Rooker (Merle from The Walking Dead) and Reginald VelJohnson (Carl from Family Matters).


The Office: Every holiday episode. They’re all excellent.

The Office, “The Christmas Party,” via nbc.com

4. The Big Bang Theory: The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis: Sheldon is horrified to find that he must exchange gifts with Penny, who gets him something priceless, resulting in a Saturnalia miracle.

5. Friends: The One with the Routine. Yup. It’s a holiday episode, but you probably didn’t realize it because you were so focused on this little piece of awesomeness:

What holiday TV episodes are on your must-see list?

If you’re looking for Christmas reading, please consider the holiday compilations in which I’ve participated:

The post Top Five Favorite Christmas TV Episodes appeared first on Becton Literary.

Emma is one of my least favorite of Austen’s heroines, but not for the reasons listed in this article on lithub, namely that she is handsome, clever, and rich.

We still have complicated responses to women who have more, look better, and do more, and worst of all, don’t seem all that apologetic about it. (Demi Lovato’s “What’s Wrong With Being Confident?” shouldn’t even be a rhetorical question.) We might call it the “Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful” predicament. Its most recent incarnation seems to be the brouhaha over “Resting Bitch Face,” a concept brought to bear most often on exceptionally beautiful, powerful female faces, which some would prefer to glimpse only if obsequiously smiling. Read more here.

Emma treats people like playthings. via cap-that.com

Emma is my least favorite because she spends most of the novel not only believing she knows what is best for everyone, but manipulating them into doing things they do not want to do. Poor Harriet Smith!

However, the moral of the novel Emma is one of Austen’s best and most important. There is only one person who knows what’s best for your life, and that is you.Tweet This

The post Emma: Worst Heroine, Best Moral appeared first on Becton Literary.

At first, I was going to limit this to those cheesy made-for-cable movies, but then I realized I was leaving out some excellent TV specials that never went to theaters. So some of these are classics and some are pure fromage.

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The original narrated by Boris Karloff. The soundtrack makes the movie. “I wouldn’t touch you with a 39 1/2 foot pole!”


Charlie Brown Christmas: The soundtrack and these awesome dance moves.

3. Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever. This is exactly what it should be. The movie breaks the fourth wall to make fun of itself.

4. If You Believe: A snarky book editor’s inner child comes out to help her adult self find joy at Christmas. (It’s streaming free on Amazon Prime right now. Click the image to add it to your watchlist.)

5. Stealing Christmas, or as my husband and I call it, A Tony Danza Christmas. I have no idea what makes this movie such a favorite. It could be Tony Danza playing a grouchy ex-con or Lea Thompson being cute. Nah, it’s probably Betty White. Betty White makes everything better.

Honorable Mention: The Flight before Christmas. Because this….

What holiday TV movies are on your must-see list?

If you’re looking for Christmas reading, please consider the holiday compilations in which I’ve participated:

The post Top Five Favorite Cheesy (and not so cheesy) Holiday TV Movies appeared first on Becton Literary.

In October, I made an ambitious production schedule for 2016. The schedule includes the first book in a new paranormal suspense series, two short stories to be included in Holidays with Jane collections, a Southern Fraud short story, and–of course–Sunset Clause. After the completion of the Southern Fraud series, I planned to write Tripp Carver’s story.

But I’m already considering changes to the grand plan.

Originally, I intended to publish Sunset Clause (SF 6) in the second half of the year and write a (non-sequential) Southern Fraud short story called “The Marriage Fraud” for Valentine’s Day. The problem is that the “short” story keeps getting longer and more complicated as I outline. In other words, I keep trying to write a seventh novel.

So I started wondering why I don’t just do that.

From the beginning of the Southern Fraud series, I planned to write 6 books. I chose to announce the number in advance because as a reader, I dislike it when a beloved series starts to drag on with no end in sight. I never wanted anyone to think that I was going to milk my characters and my world until there was nothing interesting left to read about. And no conclusion on the horizon. Just  book after book that leads to nowhere.

On the other hand, I don’t want to stop the Southern Fraud series short either. After all, I’ve devoured book after book in a much longer series and been eager for the next every time.

For me, the difference in a series that leaves me eager for the next book and one that drags is that the former moves forward and the latter doesn’t. It stagnates, and nothing–I mean nothing!–is ever resolved so that characters can move on.

I’m all about moving forward. I want to know what happens next with so many characters. What will happen with Mark and Julia? What will become of Tripp, and is he really over Jules? What about Tricia? Will she ever truly move beyond her past traumas? Not to mention Helena. And Mercer in general…. There will be so much fallout after Sunset Clause.

Anyway, I’m going to stop trying to write the short story. It may just turn into SF 7.

But for you Tripp fans out there, don’t worry. His story will be told.

Instead of the short story, I’ll be working on Sunset Clause (SF 6). There’s a good chance that it won’t be the end of the series.

The post The End? Or Is it? 2016 Publishing Schedule appeared first on Becton Literary.

Dear Miss Austen,

In celebration of your 240th birthday–though I suppose a lady would not like to reveal her age–my gift to you would be to tell you about your legacy. (Though it is actually a gift you gave yourself.) Through your books, you have achieved a certain type of immortality. They have become movies and musicals, and you yourself have even become the heroine of novels and movies. You have awakened the creativity of other writers, and you have shown generations of women what a true gentleman ought to be.

And I would like you to know that women no longer have to marry for reasons other than love. We are free to follow our hearts, just as you dreamed.

That knowledge is my birthday gift to you, if only I could tell you.

Reposted from a previous celebration of Miss Austen’s birth.

In honor of Jane Austen’s birthday, two of my Continuations of Pride & Prejudice are on sale on Kindle.
Click the images below to go to their Amazon pages.

Also, check out Holidays with Jane: Christmas Cheer, which is a collection of short stories based on each of Austen’s novels set in modern-day. Only $.99 too! Click the image below to see the book on Amazon.

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Miss Austen!

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