It’s my pleasure to introduce a good friend and fellow Golden Heart® finalist, Cathy Perkins. Cathy’s debut romantic suspense, THE PROFESSOR, was released as an ebook last month. She and I have been comparing notes on what it means to keep pace with other authors and the fast-paced competitive world of online sales. Have you heard that phrase “Jonesing?” As in, “keep up with the Joneses?” Well, Cathy put a new spin on it for me. Read on to learn about her and see what she’s giving away.
Quiet Persistence
I should tell y’all a little secret: Amy invited me to be a guest because of the beavers. I think her actual words were, “How many people can write a sentence including the phrase, did battle with the beavers over the height of the pond?”
I’m in Amy’s WritingGIAM group and, yes, that was part of my weekly recap.
Perhaps I should back up a bit. We recently bought land in the mountains that included a stream-fed pond – the pond courtesy of the beavers. The pair of beavers was pretty happy with the status quo. They gnawed on trees, killing the ones they didn’t topple, and hauled the branches into the pond for food or to add to their lodge.
From our perspective, the pond was an eyesore. Branches, leaves and other unidentifiable stuff clogged the shore and channel, clouded the water and encouraged huge algae blooms. We were less than thrilled.
Once we hauled away the collapsed barn (another story for another day), I started in on the pond. I raked out muck, pulled mountains of sticks and carried rocks to line the entrance. The water quality improved and I was thrilled when baby trout started hanging out.
The beavers retaliated by raising the height of the dam a foot, effectively flooding the back meadow. So Hubby notched the dam. This pattern continued for most of the summer. We’d leave Sunday evening with water sluicing through the cut and return on Friday to find a plastered over outlet. We’ve reached an uneasy détente, reflecting the persistence on either side of the equation.
Persistence applies in the rest of our lives, too. It’s mid-February. How are you doing with those New Year’s Resolutions? I’ve managed to lose a few pounds but the WIP that will not cooperate still isn’t done. I’m plugging away. One thing I’ve learned from the beavers is quiet persistence does work.
Thanks, Cathy! Curious to hear if any of our readers have ever found themselves “competing” with their neighbors, co-workers, other parents or siblings. Feel free to leave a comment and chat with Cathy about her woodland experience and her new book. Cathy will give a digital copy of THE PROFESSOR to one randomly selected commenter. We’ll post the winner as a comment on this post, Sat., Feb. 18th so be sure to leave your comment here by end of day Friday.
Info about the Giveaway Book: THE PROFESSOR is available from Carina Press and other online retailers. A killer targeting women on South Carolina’s college campuses sets his sights on a woman who hasn’t asked for anyone’s help in a long time. Now her life depends on it. Learn more about Cathy Perkins and her writing on her website or Facebook. You can follow her on Twitter at @cperkinswrites.
Ha, NY’s resolutions. Let’s not talk about that. It’s been a while since we had a beaver, Cathy. Lately it’s been hogs and more hogs. They are stamping out all the other populations, especially deer. (And snakes, no complaint there.)
Congratulations on meet that goal and becoming a baby Jones!
Hi Livia –
Feral hogs are mean critters. I used a story a friend told me about them – with a little enhancement since I do write fiction – in The Professor!
Great story, Cathy!!!
Meeting goals is forever a challenge. No matter how hard I plan, put contingencies in place, life gets in the way. Funerals, family emergencies…then there are days I just can’t get my fingers to type out a sentence, no matter how hard I try.
This week I will be thinking of the beaver, and his mighty persistence. Thanks for your story of encouragement.
Morning Elizabeth
Life really can ‘get in the way’ expecially when it taxes our creative energy. Sorry you’ve had a rough patch with family emergencies. Days like that happen; I’m struggling to make sure they don’t become the norm instead of the exception. Maybe that’s where that quiet persistence comes in. I’m sure you’ll find your balance.
Thanks for the great blog, Cathy! Tricky beavers.
I’m off to learn more about your book!
Cynthia Eden`s last blog was …HOWL FOR IT
Hi Cynthia!
I so want to make a comment about you eager-beaver east coasters as I work through my coffee.
Hope you enjoy the story!
Cathy, lovely to have you here on MM, and I love the story. Quiet persistence DOES work, you’re right. I’m a fan of Dorie from FINDING NEMO fame’s ‘Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.’
Michelle Diener`s last blog was …In a Treacherous Court Cover finals in the Judge A Book By Its Cover Contest
Hi Michelle
I think we have to figure out what works for us. I admire people who participate in NaNoMo, for example, and churn out thousands of words. If a scene shows up, fully developed, I’ll scribble (yep, longhand) as fast as I can to capture it, but otherwise, it’s slow and steady for me.
Congrats on the new release, Cathy! And good luck with those beavers. They definitely are single-minded in their quest. LOL.
Hi, Cathy -
The beaver story made me think of Blue Collar Comedy where Jeff Foxworthy says, “You know you’re a redneck if…you’ve ever had your nipple bitten off by a beaver.” Thank God, it was a male redneck who had that experience!
Some days, I don’t feel like I’m making enough progress, but I’ve learned to be much more satisfied with continual progress than a lot of stop and start work. I’m still refining this as my life loves, loves, loves to interfere, but I am determined to work out a rhythm that works for me.
Tracey, Adrienne and I talked about CPs’ careers going at different rates a couple of weeks ago over at RU. Do I love being the last of us to launch my fiction work? Nope. But I’ve also figured out my path is going to look a little different from either of theirs. Problem is I haven’t figured out the path yet!
And for perseverance, I love Julia Cameron’s sentiment on this: “Just take the next right step.”
Congrats on The Professor – can’t wait to add it to my TBR pile!
Kelsey
Thanks for the image, Kelsey
(Scrubbing my eyeballs)
It is tempting to compare ourselves to our critique partners, friends, chapter mates… (Hmm, is this where Amy was going with all that Jonesing?) but I think you’re right to figure out your own path and rhythms.
Thanks Misty!
I sorta didn’t mention that the beavers have expanded their domain and added two ponds below the first one (let’s hear it for creating wetlands), so I don’t feel tooooo bad about messing with the first one.
Now it I could just be as productive…
I’m right there with you. I can be depressing when you look around and see how prolific every else seems to be. I have two WIPs that are giving me trouble. : P Thank you so much for the encouragement!
Hi Shawna
Keep focused on the fact that you have two stories in the works!
I have friends who write full-time and put out 3 or 4 books a year. Part of me is in awe, but I’m honest enough to say that especially while I have a demanding day job, that isn’t going to happen. I guess you have to figure out what works for you!
Thank you Amy, for introducing me to yet another talented member of your group. I loved the story about the beavers. One would assume you found a peacful coexistence sort of thing and you both enjoy the joys of nature, replete with twigs, broken logs and mud
I’ve never had an experience like that with nature or humans, but I did have a couple of very competitive friends. I prefer to leave the competition to me with myself and let them go off together. I always thought great things came out of Carina Press and this proves it!
florence fois`s last blog was …Writer’s Life … To buy a plum bun
Hi Florence
Thanks for stopping by! You’re smart to not get caught up in other people’s competitive nature.
This property has been an endless source of amusement for me since I am (was?) a city girl. It is wonderfully peaceful though and at 5 PM when we kick back at the end of the day with a glass of wine, there is nothing like it.
Love the story of the beavers. Persistence is a great trait in beavers and writers. Doing good on the resolution. Even the weight one.
Jill James`s last blog was …Two Indie Ladies
You go, Jill!
Trying to increase my aerobic exercise because I really like to eat. Balance as well as persistence, I guess.
That story is priceless, Cathy. I read it to my daughter and we were both laughing. I’m sure you and your husband didn’t find it quite as amusing, but you to admit it is an adventure. It is a good example of perseverence … on both your and the beaver’s part.
Hate to say it, but in the end, I’m betting on the beavers.
Hi Liz –
Well, actually we did find it amusing – once we felt we had the upper hand.
Amber (our lab) has become our secret weapon as she drives the beavers nuts. She’s messing in out pond!!
We’ll see what happens with the spring thaw – there are soooo many stories I can tell: the deer that fell through the ice into the pond beside the dam and then there’s the cougar (YIKES – 5 inch across paw prints!) the bear, and the eagles….
We’ve seen the beavers in the lower ponds. When we start in on the banks again, they may decide they like the quiet of the other ponds – and we’re okay with the wetlands on that part of the property!
When I was in school sometimes my competitive nature would come out, most notably in sports. I was pretty active in extra-curricular activities and I think I was able to put my competitiveness to good use. I think it’s healthy if it brings out the best in you -and others. We had fun and got to play to our potential.
You make a good point, Na
Sometimes competition is helpful – as you mentioned, in sports where it can push you to improve.
I had to laugh at Amy’s intro of Keeping up with the Joneses because that often seems unhealthy to me – buying or doing things for appearances sake. In nature, competition is referred to as Survival of the Fittest; no Darwin Awards people, I’m still working on my first cup of coffee.
Morning, Cathy–
Looks like our readers have been enjoying your post. I knew they would! We’ll be taking comments through midnight tonight (Eastern Time) for entries in the giveaway for THE PROFESSOR.
Cathy, I’m so envious about your cabin and even the competition with the beavers. So glad you’ve reached a detente!
Living with nature is much like living in a foreign land or having a roommate of a very different culture. Ultimately, I think it teaches us a lot about ourselves as much as to respect others.
Morning Amy (waves coffee cup)
We looked for about a year for the ‘right’ piece of land – and learned waaaayyyy too much about water rights along the way. Hmmm, can I make that remotely interesting and funny someday???
Living up close and personal with the critters has been interesting, amusing and at times a challenge. Maybe because it’s new to me, I’ve shared a bit on blogs, hoping readers will also enjoy a glimpse of country living. Learning the rhythms of both nature and the ranching community we’ve joined has been like learning a different culture, but that’s also part of what makes it wonderful.
Dear Wonderful Women of Magical Musings,
Thank you SO much for a truly fun adventure on your site! I had a blast meeting your readers, and you’re gracious hostesses, all of you. Your community is so warm and welcoming. I think every book lover should bookmark Magical Musings as a top favorite.
The Saturday announcement was slightly delayed (Internet at the cabin is what I can pick up on my iphone and the random one or two bars AT&T offers in the hinterlands.
But!
The winner is Na! Please contact me through the web site http://cperkinswrites.com
Thanks again for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to connect with you and your readers, and I hope you all have a wonderful spring (when it finally quits snowing!)
My humble apologies, all! Got lost with family visiting this weekend and totally forgot to select a winner via random.org. The winner of THE PROFESSOR by Cathy Perkins is Jill James. Congratulations, Jill! I’ll put Cathy in touch with you on delivering a digital copy of the book.