Announcement: Dorothy Thompson to Appear on Radio Talk Show "Marketing with Fran" Tomorrow!

Just letting you guys know, for what it’s worth, I’M GOING TO BE ON THE RADIO TOMORROW!!!

Yep, the show is called “Book Marketing with Fran” with Fran Silverman on the Achieve Radio Network. The show airs Tuesday, January 30, 2007, at noon to 1 p.m. (MST); 11 a.m. (CST) and 2 p.m. (EST). The archives are available 10 minutes after the show ends.

The first guest, Ted Demopoulos, author of BLOGGING AND PODCASTING (2007) and BLOGGING FOR BUSINESS (2006) will begin at 2:00 and my segment will air right after his at 2:30.

To listen to the show, go to http://www.achieveradio.com/ and click on the left side under “Shows and Schedules,” then scroll down to Book Marketing with Fran. Click on “Info and Archives.” Once there, click on the appropriate “Listen Live” button on the right (Windows Media Player, Flash or Real Player).

To talk to Fran or her guest, call toll free 800-920-3717 (Phoenix area—623-772-9379). Or to email them, on left side of main page, click “In-Quick Message or Call-In” (In-Quick only works during live shows).

Wish me luck!

Writers Are Just Actors Who Don't Want to Appear on Stage

Someone mentioned this proverbial statement in one of my writing groups today, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is exactly the mentality of about 99% of the writer population, don't you think?

The rude awakening comes after their books are published, and they aren't selling.

Before I became published, thoughts of going on Oprah and Montel were swimming in my head. I wanted it all. I wanted the house in Bel Aire and books flying off the shelves so fast, the stores couldn't keep them in stock. I had no idea what it was really going to be like.

Promotion was the key word, and while I knew it was my responsibility as well as the publisher's to sell the darn book, nothing prepared me for what it would take to actually sell them the way I wanted them sold.

If I wanted to become a bestseller and appear on the talk show circuit, I was going to have to come out of my safe little cocoon and do what needed to be done to help sell books.

But, I learned it wasn't my books that needed selling. It was me. If I wanted that house in Bel Aire, I had to become a household name.

So, I started branding myself. When one of my books, Romancing the Soul (Zumaya 2004) became published, I knew in order for the book to take off, I would have to have some kind of platform in which to show the talk show circuit that I was an expert in the field. This led to writing and syndicating relationship columns, as well as personal coaching those who were looking for answers about the soul mate experience.

I went on radio talk shows and while it still was nerve-wracking, I knew I had to do this for my book to sell. A few years after Romancing the Soul was published, I learned a good deal about promoting, and I'm learning more every day. I decided, then, to choose another platform, and that was showing people how to promote online effectively. Thus, another book (this time a self-published ebook), A Complete Guide to Promoting & Selling Your Self-Published eBook, was put together to help authors learn how to pump up their online book promotion. This time, I went on virtual book tours and started a workshop. So, in effect, not only am I branding myself as a relationship expert, but a marketing guru as well. To show you how effective my campaign was, the editor of the celebrity tabloid, OK!, called me on the phone and asked me for my opinion on an article they were putting together. My quote ended up one of the October issues.

Now, if I just relied on my book's merit to sell, would I have gotten that interview? Heck, no.

As writers, all we really want to do is write, but that's not all there is to it. We have to be actors. We have to be performers. We have to brand ourselves, then show the world we are experts in our field. The more we are actively and aggressively doing this, the more that those golden opportunities will show themselves.

And this relates to more book sales.

Your story may be different. You may have taken your book and gotten on the bestseller list and already live in that house in Bel Aire. For me, it's a little tougher, but it's just something that I already know I have to do.

Sometimes, it's not fun, but I have found that the more you do it, the easier it gets.

Incidentally, I'll be appearing on Fran Silverman's Marketing with Fran Radio Show on Tuesday. I will be discussing how to pump up your own book promotion campaign and perhaps give you ideas on how you can start yours.

Wish me luck and I hope you can listen in!

This is Why it's Hard to Get an Agent...

The market sucks.

I was over at agent Kristin Nelson's blog where she tried to explain why it is there are so many rejections. In her words, "It takes a freakin' village to buy a book."

If you are one of the lucky ones and you have found an agent who is interested in your book, don't think it's time to celebrate just yet. It still has to get accepted by a publisher of course.

And, still, if you learn a certain publishing-house-of-your-dreams has the book and is considering it, it still has to go through a committee, which translates to about six heads if memory serves me right.

But, wait, then you have to take the market at the time your book is sitting there into consideration. So, even if it finally gets to the point where the committee has it in their greedy little hands, it's still not time to celebrate because if the market isn't right for your book at the exact milliminute, you're kaput.

How sad that must be for authors who have gotten to this point.

I've started submitting again, even knowing the odds. I still have that dream and I figure that's the fuel in my fire.

Knowing what I know, and reading how Kristin put it like it really is, I still submit and I still get excited when any progress is announced. I try to keep a level head but even getting past that "getting an agent" stage would be the most wonderful thing.

And then I hope.

I hope that the market is right. I hope that an agent loves my work, and I hope the committee falls absolutely in love with my book.

I've heard it takes some authors YEARS before they find an agent, then a publishing deal. And, even knowing this, I still keep on.

While some writers are perfectly content publishing through vanity houses or subsidy houses, or even small press such as I am, there is still that goal and I won't give up.

Tired of One Rejection After Another?

I guess the title speaks for itself, but have you just about had it with agents and publishers telling you that your query just isn't good enough? Does it royally piss you off when after you've spent months working on a story that just HAS to be a bestseller...after all...your Aunt Divinia loved it and she hates everything and your cousin on your father's side twice-removed said it's the best thing he's read being as he's been incarcerated for the last fifteen years and has had plenty of time to read everything there is...and you get that dreaded NOT FOR ME note? Doesn't it make you want to throw in the towel and take up basket weaving?

Never fret...there's a solution....

Go to www.dorothythompson.youaremighty.com and see what I did to get over the rejection blues...then...after that, put your own name in the url and see what a great picker upper it is!

Truthfully, I'm still waiting on three queries I sent out a couple of weeks ago, but when I get that dreaded rejection slip (which I know I will...so much for positive thinking), I will immediately download the link, sit back and say...I am mighty!!!!

Have fun....;o)

SPECIAL GUEST: Jamieson Wolf, author of GARDEN CITY

I have a special treat for you today! Jamieson Wolf's first stop on his virtual book tour to talk about his book, GARDEN CITY, is here, live, at Boomer Chick!

Writing from an early age, Jamieson was not really aware that he wanted to become a writer. Starting with poetry, he slowly began to fill journals with words. They words didn't really have meaning to him at the time; they were scratches on paper. Turning away from his words for a time, trying to find his way in the big world of the corporate drones, he enjoyed a great many different hats.

One night, after a particularly bad day at his zillionth office job, Jamieson came upon his old journals and started reading. When he was done, night had come, but instead of sleeping he got up and found a blank journal. And started writing.

"The words just kept coming," he says. "It was like they were there, underneath my skin all the time. I just didn't know it. I wanted to be an actor you know." Here he bends forward and sits in a more comfortable position. "I went to school for it and everything. I loved the acting." He makes a face. "I just didn't like the people."

Reading those words was like an epiphany. Jamieson knew what he wanted to do at that point; but it would take time. Approaching the art of writing like a Bard in training (Seven Years Learning, Seven Years Practicing, Seven Years Teaching) Jamieson has branched outward to give his voice it's hold.

Currently his work is available in the book: Susan Sarandon: A True Maverick. He has also had his fiction published in: The Dark Krypt, Clean Sheet's Erotica, Mytholog, The House of Pain, Twilight Times, Slow Trains Literary Journal, SunPiper Press, A Long Story Short and others.

He is currently a Senior Reviewer at Linear Reflections and has written the novels Electric Pink, Electric Blue and Garden City book of collected fiction.

He is also going to be teaching an online course for A Long Story Short School of Writing entitled The Muse. It will focus on writing from inspiration and finding the inspiration to write.

"I just love what I do," he says. "I'm going to be telling stories for a long time to come. It's like I can tap into the world around me and hear the tattoo under the ground. It's quite the feeling."

More information about Jamieson's work is available at his web site at http://jamiesonwolf.tripod.com.

GARDEN CITY is a book about magic, about people, and what happens when the two mix. It's a book you won't want to put down.

I give you...Jamieson Wolf, author of GARDEN CITY...

Boomer Chick: Jamieson, can you tell the readers what GARDEN CITY is all about?

Jamieson: GARDEN CITY is a book of collected fiction. The stories actually span my entire writing career and, without really know it, I set all the stories in the same place.

Founded by the Goddess of Time, Garden City is a sprawling city metropolis that is home to more than concrete and glass. Roaming it's streets are ghosts, spirits, Goddesses, the Three Fates and, perhaps most importantly, Magic.

There are 20 fictions collected in GARDEN CITY and in each story, we see a little bit of different lives. There's Owen Wolfe who stumbles upon a grisly murder involving magic. There's Kimberlee, who is claimed as a bride by a statue come to life. Or Nancy, a young woman who meets the Goddess of the Fae in a city park.

But there are others who live in Garden City as well. There is Poppy who is able to turn into a Crow after a mysterious dream. There is Alex who prolongs his life by out running the Three Fates; Hillary who disappears while on assignment for a reality TV show. A woman named Miriam disappeared on the thirteenth floor of Edison Tower.

Magic comes in many forms and can effect lives in so many different ways. GARDEN CITY is like a dozen of lives, all happening at the same time. Look at Garden City like a bouquet of flowers: beautiful, but with sharp thorns.

Boomer Chick: Beautifully put, Jamieson! Can you tell us why you chose self-publishing to publish this book?

Jamieson: For me, self-publishing is all about freedom. I had tried sending the manuscript for Garden City to different publishers, but there are few publishers that want to take a look at a collection of short stories by one author. It seems the short story is a lost genre; no one wants short fiction anymore, they want novels.

I started writing with short stories, so the genre is very dear to me. But with no one wanting to publish short story collections (unless you're a big name author) I wasn't getting anywhere. So I started thinking about self-publishing. For years, I was under the mistaken impression that self-publishing had less of a status than traditional publishing, that self-published books were of lesser quality.

Then I realized that this didn't have to be the case, if I published the books myself. I had always dreamed of being my own publisher and, with the publication of Garden City, I am. Self-publishing gives me the freedom to publish good fiction, when I want and how I want.

With self-publishing, I can breathe and finally realize my dream.

Boomer Chick: I'm agreeing with you on that. I've self-published a few ebooks and when you know something works, it just works, you know? What ways are you promoting your book besides this virtual tour?

Jamieson: Gosh, what am I NOT doing to promote my book? I've created my very first Book Trailer for GARDEN CITY and you can see it here:

GARDEN CITY: A Book Trailer
http://beta.photoshow.com/watch?sc=fQ3Df7mt&cid=12

I run my own blog entitled I AM THE HUNTER where I post about my writing, what I'm working on, what I'm currently reading or whatever tickles my fancy. You can view my blog here:

I AM THE HUNTER: Blog for Jamieson Wolf
http://www.jamiesonwolf.blogspot.com/

I also run my own newsletter called THE WOLF and it's free! I write about what I'm working on and even provide valuable writing tips to readers looking to try their hand at writing. You can view it here:

THE WOLF: The Newsletter for author Jamieson Wolf
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jamieson_Wolf/

Promotion is key to anything, especially writing. If I'm not willing to promote myself, how can I expect others to read what I write? :)

Boomer Chick: Jamieson, you make a good point. If you don't believe in yourself, how are others going to believe in you? That's the first step in good promoting. What are your plans for the future as far as writing books is concerned?

Jamieson: Well, as per usual, I have many things on the go. I've submitted a second rewrite of my novel Hope Falls to The Friday Project and will hopefully have good news in the future. *fingers crossed*.

I'm working on my new serial novel called HUNTED and working on a serial short story for my blog called SECOND SIGHT.

I'm putting together a book of essays I wrote on Stephen King's Dark Tower Series entitled Watching the Rose Bloom and I've started a book of reviews about Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and a book on Muses that will include writing exercises and tips.

I've finished my children's novel The Ghost Mirror and will begin working on a rewrite and have started a new novel that I think will be a love story. So, as usual, lots of things going on at the same time, but I'm happiest that way.

Boomer Chick: Can you give us the addy to where we can buy it?

Jamieson: You can stop by my web site to pick up a copy of GARDEN CITY:

Jamieson Wolf: Teller of Tales, Weaver of Words
http://jamiesonwolf.tripod.com/

Boomer Chick: There you have it, guys. Jamieson Wolf, author of GARDEN CITY! Thank you so much for stopping by, Jamieson, and good luck to you!

Jamieson: Thanks so much for taking the time to have me here, Dorothy, it's been a blast!

SPECIAL GUEST: Kathy Holmes, author of MYTHS OF THE FATHERLESS

I am happy to have a special guest, Kathy Holmes, author of MYTHS OF THE FATHERLESS on Boomer Chick today! Not only is she one of the kindest people you would ever meet, but when I met her in an online group a year or so ago, I had no idea just how much we really had in common. We are both writers, but we are both also women with a past that was so similar, it flabbergasted the both of us. Not only are we both California boomer babes, but we both have been holding deep, dark secret feelings inside of us for years and years which finally was set free just this past year.

We both did remarkable things this past year: she published a book, and I found my father. You wouldn't think those two things had anything to do with one another, but they have a great thing to do with one another.

It is MYTHS OF THE FATHERLESS that opened my eyes to the fact that over all those years of growing up without a father and feeling an abandonment that would never go away, I could finally find the closure I needed.

After fifty-two years, I found my father after a cousin on my father's side of the family found me on the Internet performing a genealogy search. It is because of him I met cousins and aunts and uncles I had never met. But, the one who alluded me, the one who could help me close that door on the hurt and the pain, was my father, and he refused to meet me. He knew where I was. He could have called me. He could have at least emailed me, but for some reason, he couldn't. Perhaps he needs a copy of Kathy's book to understand the anguish fatherless daughters feel and how important it is to find that closure that they both need.

I have Kathy here today to help us understand why it is that fathers seem to just "not care." I was really amazed (and that's an understatement) at how beautifully-written this book was. She covers it all. Now, I give you....Kathy Holmes, author of MYTHS OF THE FATHERLESS....

Dorothy: Thank you for coming, Kathy! Would you like to tell everyone what your book is all about?

Kathy: Dorothy, I’d love to.

We all know that every little girl loves her daddy. But what happens when that daddy is missing? Or another man steps into his place? Society has accepted many myths about what that means to a child.

MYTHS OF THE FATHERLESS attempts to dispel those myths by sharing the story of my search for my father and eventual reunion with him. Throughout my journey, I discovered I was not alone, and despite my denial, fathers are very important to a woman. And whatever the reason the father is missing, not knowing him affects a woman’s relationships with men and her entire life.

Dorothy: I can relate to that for sure, but it wasn't until I read your book did I realize this. Let me ask you something else. I grew up in a fatherless home. I had a step-father for a few years, but he wasn't my real father, you know? Throughout my years growing up, I really missed having a father. I would cringe when anyone talked about their father, and I know that's terrible to say, but why do you think I felt so terrible?

Kathy: Dorothy, that’s a very normal reaction and one reason why kids deny that they want anything to do with a missing father. If there’s a step dad, you bond with him even more so that you can feel part of a family. You tell everybody you have a dad. That helps you to feel normal, that you’re like everybody else, and not deprived in any way. So if he’s missing, you can’t help but feel negative feelings that you’re second best and all you deserve is second best. Those feelings can impact the rest of your life. But having a step dad doesn’t make those feelings disappear—often they’re repressed and they still have a negative impact on your life. Acknowledging your feelings, expressing the truth goes a long way toward healing that part of you.

Dorothy: Yeah, I think it's all part of the being normal thing. I didn't have a father like everyone else and, truthfully, I felt I was deprived. I felt cheated. Before you found your father, what was going on inside you?

Kathy: I had worked hard at repressing those feelings. The book shows different points in my life where I really wanted to express my feelings, but I felt coerced not to. I was able to deny those feelings for most of my life until I was in my early 40s when the feelings refused to go away and just burst out of me. And that’s when I vowed to find my father.

Dorothy: Do you think growing up without a father has any influence on future relationships? What have you heard from other women about this?

Kathy: Experts have spoken out about this quite a bit. In fact, after doing some research on this topic I wrote an article called, “Relationships with Fathers Influence Relationships with Men.” It’s been one of my most popular articles on the internet. In fact, I know an adopted girl in her early 20s who’s going through this right now. Her adopted parents don’t support her in expressing these feelings, and she finds herself dating all the wrong guys.

Dorothy: Ouch. I can imagine the adopted parents feel threatened in some way, and not a good way of dealing with the issue. Perhaps in time, the adopted girl can find ways outside of the adopted home to find her father because she really needs to find her closure. Let me ask you, do you think that if you know where your father is, you should look him up even though you feel that it's going to open a can of worms?

Kathy: Yes, I do. That’s what I did. I was under the impression I might find my dad on skid row – my mother certainly encouraged me to view him this way so that I wouldn’t go looking for him. Eventually, I just knew I had to find him, no matter the outcome. And I discovered that he was an upstanding man, with a family of his own, and there was more to the story than what I knew at that time—his side of the story which was quite different than what I had been told. And I later discovered his story was true. If I hadn’t looked for him, I never would have known.

Dorothy: Omg...did I learn a few things myself. I had given up on finding my father when out of the blue, I get this email from a cousin on my father's side who was doing a genealogy search and found me over the Internet. Out of curiosity, I emailed him back and do you know I discovered cousins, aunts, uncles, even SISTERS and a BROTHER I never knew I had! Now, I don't know if it was someone higher up looking after me, but if my cousin had not found me, and emailed me, I wouldn't have even found out that! But, getting back to what you were saying about your father's story being different from what I had been told, I found out things that really floored me. It seems my mother's mother and my father's mother didn't see eye to eye on things, and that was the block that was preventing my father from finding me. I talked to his brother, my new uncle, and he said that his mother strictly forbade her son from contacting my mother or me. It's just a crying shame! My father's mother has since died, and it's like everything now might be able to come together. Who knows...still trying.

What have you heard from other women who have found their fathers? Happy experiences or not-so-happy?

Kathy: There are peaks and valleys in this experience. At times I was at a high, celebrating my happy outcome. At other times, the relationship wasn’t where I wanted it to be and I would be discouraged – especially if I saw others whose reunions were going better than mine at the time. For example, after I met my father I began watching the daytime television show, “Starting Over.” At that time, I thought my relationship with my father wasn’t going to go beyond meeting him once. And when I saw Susan on the show seemingly having a much better experience than I was, I was frustrated. But the show also taught me to look at my father’s side of things, at his family’s point of view and that allowed me to reach out to him in truth and love. And after taking a big emotional risk and expressing my feelings to him, we began a new phase in our relationship. Every person’s experience is different and we progress at different rates. It helps to have somebody facilitate the relationship, too.

Dorothy: Okay, I see. It's hard to imagine my father not wanting to be a part of my life, but I am not looking at it from his perspective. His wife who cares for him (he's elderly, in his seventies) is scared of the repercussions, so I have to respect that, I guess. But, I want to see him so bad. I have a picture of him on my blog (look to the right under the 'Finding my Father' threads) and we look so alike. People have even commented about this. I really want to meet him so bad, what do you suggest I do?

Kathy: After fervent prayer, which is probably what you’ve already done, I might suggest another attempt at contacting him but through a facilitator of some sort. Perhaps a family member or some other professional life coach. I’m not sure who is out there to do something of that nature and if there isn’t anyone, I think that would be a great thing to start because a professional or somebody who has been through that may have the skills to negotiate the contact. I think private detectives are a turn-off – I saw that scenario on the show, too, and it didn’t seem to work as well as a professional life coach. And sometimes we’re so close to the issue; our emotions get in the way. I almost messed up my new connection with my father because it hadn’t turned out exactly the way I had imagined, and it was by observing the necessary skills on “Starting Over” that allowed me to try again and this time be successful.

Dorothy: I must watch that show! I do have a facilitator, my aunt, who was acting as a go-between. She is frustrated that she can't get through to him, too. But, I don't think she is giving up, and neither am I. Why do you think fathers do this? Why do they ditch their kids and never want to see them again? Are they embarrassed or just don't want to make that first move, or do you think they just really don't care?

Kathy: I think it’s hard to give a one-size-fits-all answer because each circumstance is different and complicated. But many times I’ve learned it isn’t just the father’s fault—the mother played a part in it. Often, the mother has kept her part in it a secret so that she can look like the innocent one and have the child’s complete love and devotion. If you write the father off as somebody who doesn’t care, you may miss out on knowing his true feelings. Sometimes fathers have their own issues and that’s why they’re away. One woman in my book told the story of how her dad was an alcoholic and didn’t seem to care about her at all. But when he died she discovered he had saved all of her childhood mementoes and that helped heal her because she realized he had loved her all along. Sometimes there are other factors; often the father’s wife plays a big role in how successful that meeting is. But you don’t really know how it’ll turn out until you try, and I think you’ll feel better for having done that.

Dorothy: I totally agree with you. You won't know unless you try. There are statistics that show that it's nine times out of ten the father who leaves the child, and not the mother. I can't imagine any mother who would abandone something that they held in their womb for nine months...it's just unthinkable, although it does happen. Do you know the statistics on how many mothers ditch their kids, as opposed to fathers?

Kathy: You know I don’t know those statistics. We’ve all heard about mothers who did leave their children with the father – although fewer in number than fathers, but every child who is put up for adoption is, in fact, abandoned by their mother. So the numbers are rather high. While I haven’t found overall adoption statistics, there are thousands each year who are adopted from each state, from other countries, etc. In fact, the adoption rate is increasing.

Dorothy: Your book, “Myths of the Fatherless” is one of the most wonderful books I have read on growing up fatherless. Can you tell us where we can purchase it?

Kathy: Yes. You can find the purchase link on my web site at www.kathyholmes.net.

Dorothy: Kathy, this is such an interesting subject and something that really hits close to home. Do you have more books coming out on the same subject, and can you tell us about other future books?

Kathy: Actually, this book was born out of my need to tell my story. At first I started writing it in a fictional setting. And while my novels all seem to have an underlying theme of a woman never knowing her father growing up and the challenges it’s presented in her life, I decided I wanted to be more direct with this message. I started a blog at http://thefatherless.blogspot.com, which led to this book. I’ve also written articles on this subject, which you can also find links to from my web site. And I hope to have news of a sale and release date for my first fiction novel soon.

Dorothy: Kathy, it has been such a pleasure having you. You really have made a difference in my life as far as realizing that for once fatherless children do have a voice. Thank you for coming!

Kathy: Dorothy, thank you so much for having me. It’s such a pleasure to hear this has made an impact on you and on others because it is a topic that I feel quite passionate about, and I hope to continue writing and speaking about it.

***

If you are a fatherless daughter, or know someone who is, please check out Kathy's book, "Myths of the Fatherless," here!

Vote for The Writer's Life!

Hi everyone...

It's that time of year again and the Preditors & Editor's Readers Poll is in full swing!

The Writer's Life has been in operation since 2001 and provides writing resources, promotional opportunities for writers, and a newly added promotional workshop. But, more than that, it's a labor of love.

As the editor of The Writer's Life, my goal is to help writers achieve their goals of becoming published and help them promote once they have achieved this. It is to all the writers out there I dedicate this website, and it is my hope that The Writer's Life was a part of making their dreams come true.

If you would be so kind and vote for us under the "Nonfiction Magazine/Ezine" category at Preditors & Editors and to vote for the editor (moi) under "Magazine/Ezine Editors," I would greatly appreciate your vote. To vote, click here, and thank you!

Dorothy Thompson
Editor, The Writer's Life
www.thewriterslife.net

Pondering the Mysteries of Life

I'm sitting here staring at my dog, Max, lying on the cold hardwood floor with the soft carpet only inches from his hind legs. Now, what's up with that?

I might not be the most enlightened person, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if it's time to go to sleep, a nice warm bed, especially in January, makes the perfect sense. Of course, you know Max from previous posts - he has no sense whatsoever.

But, then, my eyed strayed around my living room and there's a whole bunch of stuff I don't understand. They may be be little. They may be trivial. But, if you stepped outside of your reality mind-set and looked upon life from a deeper, more philosophical, ideal, then you just might drive yourself crazy as I have done this morning.

The mysteries of life is a key phrase which means, "WTF?"

Okay, I've compiled many, many, well a few, mysteries of life found right in my living room without having to even get out of my computer chair, and they are:

1. Why is there a dime on my living room floor? To an ordinary person, you wouldn't think anything of it. You might walk around it. You might even pick it up, but around here, that is highly unlikely unless you're more broke than I thought you were. The mystery of life is why is it down there? Who dropped it and didn't pick it up? Did the dime dropper realize that he's just lost 1/10th of a dollar? Did it happen to get sweeped up from the back of the house and left there by someone who didn't care? When will it get picked up? The next time the floor gets swept?

2. Okay, on to the next mystery of life...there are five stuffed animals strewn around my living room floor. I know Max did it, but what was his point? Is he half/human (God forbid) and just like a kid, he has to torment his parents by leaving his toys all around the living room without giving a darn? And what's up with the (count'em) twelve dog biscuits lying beside the stuffed animals? Who put them there and what's the point? If I'm hungry, do I throw a bunch of Snickers all over the carpet waiting for that munchie break?

3. Here's a good one. There are two opened containers of milk in the fridge. My daughter bought one a day or so ago, and BF bought one last night. They are both open. Now, what's the point? Why can't you use up one container, then start on the other? Is it because you're scared shitless of my daughter and don't want to use her milk?

4. Here's a big mystery of life...why is it I'm the only one in the world who has a corner full of boxes and a Christmas tree that was supposed to go up in the attic a week ago, still sitting there? Christmas was over on Jan.1 in this household and that was nine days ago. How long will they stay sitting in that spot before SOMEONE in this household helps me get them in the attic?
5. Oh, here's a good one, too. Why is it your car breaks down, you leave it in your yard for two or three months, waiting to be able to afford to get it fixed, then you get this bright idea to go on and get it towed and take it to the garage thinking you can afford to have it fixed when your financial status is perhaps worse after the holiday? Is that the biggest mystery of all time? Not only are you smacked with an $829 bill, but they expect you to pay this within a reasonable amount of time? Hell, if I had a thousand bucks tucked away, don't you think I would have had it fixed a long time ago?

Too many mysteries of life going on in this house. I could go on and on, but I've got a lot of work to do. I've revamped my website at www.dorothythompson.net if you'd like a peek, and I'm feverently (hmm...doesn't look like it's spelled right) awaiting word from a few places I inquired about a column.

Oh, and Friday, I'm hosting Kathy Holmes on her virtual blog tour for her book, "Myths of the Fatherless." Another mystery of life...why do fathers leave their daughters anyway? Guess we'll find out Friday.

You guys have a wonderful day and if you get to pondering the mysteries of life around your household, you can always say what Charles Schulz said, "I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it."

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