Just a quick post...

Caitie and I have been asked to write a column for wdwforgrownups.com -- you can find us under the column heading "Jolly Holiday" -- come check it out, especially if you love Disney!

Thanksgiving

It's the day before Thanksgiving. I don't have a whole lot to add to the general blogosphere of giving thanks that's been pervading my computer monitor, but it only seems fitting to raise my proverbial voice to the chorus of "Thank you" for my family, and my friends, and having a job. I'm thankful I have a home and am still hanging onto my middle class living.

I'm thankful I have been given a talent of writing, but more importantly I'm thankful I have a wife who supports and encourages me. When I feel like I'm not good enough (for those of you who get the reference, when the vampires attack), Caitie is my own personal Van Helsing. I love writing, and I love being creative. Caitie allows me to pursue that drive to write - telling me what works and what doesn't - pushing me forward and giving me the drive to keep pursuing my dream. Above anything else, I'm thankful for the love she shows me every day.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving.

Christopher Moore - funny guy!

I just finished reading "Fool" by Christopher Moore, after having read "Lamb" and "You Suck." If you haven't read any of his books, really, you're missing out. They are literally laugh out loud funny. Thank you, Caitie, for introducing him to me!

On the back flap of "Fool" he provides an email address to contact him. Seeing as I've written a comedy novel myself (albeit YA) I figured I'd write to him and see if he had any advice. Surprisingly, within 24 hours he had written back, and we exchanged a couple of emails back and forth!

He had some great advice about letting inspiration in at all hours of the day and night, writing everything down, where funny bits can come from, and how to decide what to keep and what to cut (perhaps the most valuable bit for me -- as an unpublished author, he very strongly suggested making sure EVERYTHING in the first 25 pages fits the story - even if it's funny as hell, if it doesn't fit the story, cut it).

His emails were funny and self-deprecating, while honest and helpful at the same time. I really appreciated the time he took to help out a novice writer -- so again, helping him out with a bit of a plug -- if you haven't read any of his books, seriously, go pick one up. I plan on reading more of his work as soon as I can!

Voting

Caitie posted on her blog about voting tomorrow. We went to the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on Saturday, and other than the resulting foot pain I have, had a fantastic time. What you saw on TV wasn't half the energy and excitement felt by us there. If you've never been a part of a crowd of 250,000 people, I highly recommend trying it sometime. It's a pretty amazing experience.

Anyway, the Rally impressed even more on my mind the importance of voting tomorrow. Regardless of your affiliation, we live in a representative republic. That means that in order for your voice to be heard, you need to make it heard with a flip of a lever or a check of a box or the pushing of a button on election day. Not voting is akin to saying you're OK with the status quo, whatever that might be, and choosing to NOT be a part of the process. Not voting robs you of the right to complain. Not voting lets puppies die.

So please, whatever your affiliation, get out tomorrow and make your voice heard. I know I don't have a large readership, but maybe I can get linked on someone else's blog (if nothing else to save the poor puppies), and if I can get ONE person who would not have gone out to vote otherwise to do so, I will have been a success.