Favorite Time of Year

September 19, 2007 | Uncategorized

I have always loved fall, and October is my favorite month. Memories of apple orchards, apple cider, colorful tress, fallen leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving, cooler evenings and days fill my mind. Here in coastal Virginia, the leaves generally don’t fall until Novemeber, but I love to drive to Williamsburg and northern Virginia and absorb the scenery of the changing colors.

Generally I try to put up my Halloween decorations around September 15. I like to have at least a full month to enjoy my lawn decorations. I think my neighbors have come to the conclusion my house is Halloween central. Some of them will decorate and some try to “out do” each other. Dont you just love that? NOT!!!

 I just enjoy having fun and turning my simple ranch into a “Haunted House”. To add to the fun, on Halloween night I dress in my long black gown and long black velvet cape (I custom ordered it from England about 5 years ago), witches hat, and hand out goodies to the children. Of course, the candy is in my cauldron! Its SPELLtacular!! Haha….

Do you decorate for fall or Halloween/Samhain? If so what do you do for decorations and do you have a problem with your neighbors trying to put up bigger and better decorations? (This really happens at Christmas time with the lights, etc) What is your favorite season?

Slainte!

Heidi

Sisters in Crime Meeting

September 8, 2007 | Uncategorized

I recently joined Sisters in Crime (A mystery writers group) and went to my first meeting tonight. I had a wonderful time and everyone was so kind and supportive. We had a guest speaker, who was great and discussed fingerprinting and the police’s methods of finger printing in crime scenes. I also saw a few familiar faces from writers I had not seen in a few years. Overall, it was a great night and thanks to everyone who welcomed me!

Slainte!

Heidi 

Quick Update, Tropical Storm, Oceana NAS Air Crash

Uncategorized

Finally, the rewrite is almost finished. It’s been tough with so much homework from Nursing school, but Ive managed to do it. I’m quite pleased with the rewrite, and the fact I’ve cut about 8000 words so far.

On the other hand, we are in a Tropical Storm watch for tommorrow, I’m waiting for the National Weather Service’s 5:00 pm report to determine what needs to be done to the yard, what needs to be tied down, or put into the garage and if we need to move the vehicles away from the trees. We have been anticipating one of our three huge maples in the back yard to come down during a storm, which would be a nightmare. If they came down, or even one of them, the house would have a lot of damage.

I just wanted to say my thoughts are with the family of the SNJ 4 Geiko Skytypers  pilot’s who crahsed on Friday and died.  He almost made the runway. The airport is only 2 miles from my house, and some people did hear the plane sputter and go down. I’ve spent a lot of time at air shows and around airplanes in my life and I hate to hear of these crashes. This was a rare aircraft, one of 11 left in the world I think.

Slainte!

Heidi

Eire……more pictures

August 13, 2007 | Uncategorized

Blarney town, driving Heidi in DublinCliffs of MoherCead Mile Failte (A Hundre Thousand Welcomes)

Here are some more pictures of Eire(Ireland)

My Beloved Ireland……

August 12, 2007 | Uncategorized

Trim Castle (L); Below is Newgrange and far right is Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny Inside NewgrangeCahir Castle (L) Cliffs of Moher

Welcome To My World….Where the Paranormal and Magick Merge

August 11, 2007 | Uncategorized

Here is an idea of my “literary world”, the basis for my series…

This is a world where ghosts are everywhere and modern science has confirmed and documented them. Federally licensed Envisioners, are dispatched to help private citizens and governments alike send the spirits who have stayed behind to the Otherworld, aka, Heaven, Hell, or etc. Not only are ghosts and spirits real, but so are demons, entities of unknown orgins, and the fey.

This is a world where The United States of America’s governement recognizes the paranormal and requires Envisioners to hold a federal license (In most cases Envisioners become federal agents, known as a Magickal Marshall) and a college degree to use magick. Its a world where magick is welcomed and taught in colleges and universities, a world where you carry a wand for self defense and to start your car if you forget your key. 

In this world, Druids, witches, and wizards must be college educated, and most with advanced degrees hold positions of power in the government, law, medicine, business, and science. This is a world where religions merge and help one another….like Celtic gods working with the archangels and God to help fight evil . And the best part….a world where the Faery world, and interrealm travel are real. If you are educated and licensed to use magick, you can see your neighbors protective ward’s glowing around their houses as you drive through your neighborhood…..welcome to my imagination and world….one I write about and would love to share with you. Welcome to the world of Envisionment…

I hope you love it and feel welcome….

Slainte!

Heidi

Ireland Pics….Blarney Castle

August 10, 2007 | Uncategorized

Blarney Castle and Toweralt=”Blarney Castle”>

These pictures were taken Saturday Oct 14, 2006 at Blarney Castle. This is a beautiful castle and grounds. October in Ireland was pleasant and it only rained on our last day. To kiss the Blarney Stone and recieve the gift of “gab”, you have to lay down and lean backwards. No easy feat since the stone is at the top of the castle. Just a word of warning….you have a lot of castle stairs to climb!!!

                                                              

Creation and Rewrites

July 20, 2007 | Uncategorized

After spending the past three weeks with company in my home, I’m ready to devote my time to finishing my rewrite. I find it difficult to work when  children are running around my house and my wee cocker spaniels  are barking and chasing the kids. Not only that, but I try to be a good hostess and it’s imperative to me to keep my house clean, tidy, and friendly. My goal is that every invited guest in my home feels welcome and comfortable. I’m very open with my belongings and my close friends and family need not ask for anything. My philosphy to them is …..what’s mine is yours.

What do I do when I need to get into the mood to write? We’ll early on in the course of developing plot lines for the seven plus books, I conditioned myself. Yes, I used my graduate level psychology education to do this. Simply put, I play music I know will inspire me. There is one band who I ALWAYS play first to motivate me. Evanesence. They are my favorite band and Amy Lee, their lead singer, looks just as Sydney, my main character. I found this correlation ironic when I first discovered Evanescene.

Anyway, I have Evanescene’s DVD playing with my laptop is whirling as I mentally prepare my mind to sink back into “creation” mode.  I’ve decieded to change a few things in the plot line…..surprise…it’s a writers priviledge.

Slainte!

Heidi

Hot

July 9, 2007 | Uncategorized

July in Virginia is always so darn hot. This year is no different, and I thank God for air conditioning. I hope everyone had a safe 4th of July. I’ve had company from out of state for the past 10 days and at the end of this week, my family will be here for a week. I havent seen them in a few years so it will be a great visit.  When we have visitors, we always do the historical thing and head up to Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown. If you are not familiar with those places, you need to read your American history, circa 1776 or so. The American Revolution ended here. Jamestown, the first British settlement is here, and so is Willaimsburg. Blackbeard roamed these parts and Cornwallis surrended at Williamsburg…..actually more like Yorktown. Anyway, it’s a fun time.

As for the rewrite, I’m working on it again since I’m on break from school. It’s nice to be back in my characters minds after spending so much time reviewing meds and OB/Psych/Peds Nursing. The team will have a new newsletter up soon, so please look for that!

Slainte!

Heidi

Two new names

June 18, 2007 | Uncategorized

The two titles I like are Designed by Magick and The Demons Mark. Which title to you like better? Please respond I need alot of votes to make sure I find a good submision title.

Heidi =)

Raise Me Up

June 1, 2007 | Uncategorized

Raise Me Up (c)

Impresions from the past,
flow throughout my dreams,
Reminding me of who I am,
Reminding me of what I want to be.
I see you,
and you raise me up,
Up to where I can believe,
Up to where I am the shining star.
You raise me up,
so I can believe in hope,
so I can be me,
only you can see the true me.
When you raise me up,
I become my hope,
I believe in me.

By Heidi C. Dahlquist (c) 2006

By Your Side

Uncategorized

By Your Side (c)

Time after time,
I call your name,
Hoping, begging, pleading, that you hear my call.
I raise my hands to heaven, exposing my soul, summoning you to my side.

Come to me,
Stand by my side,
Love me as no other,
Never leave me for another.

Love me forever,
Hold me tight and whisper sweet nothings to me throughout the night.
Keep me safe,
Keep me tight,
Remind me I’m not alone during the night.

When the day breaks and the sun rises high,
Ill stand by your side.
When the sun sets and the night grows cold,
Ill be by your side.
When you’re sick and unable to breathe,
Ill give you my breath,
Ill keep you safe,
Ill keep you warm,
All because you’re the one I love.

By Heidi C. Dahlquist (c) 2006

Work in Progress

May 31, 2007 | Uncategorized

I’ve been quite busy between school, tests, clinicals, and revisions. I’m quite happy with the progress of the revision and the quality of my work, even though I know it will always need improvement. It is going well. I’m trying to work on it for a few hours each night, and hope to have it completed and off to agents and publishers within a few weeks. Once, I finish the revision, I’ll print it, and visually search for errors and read it. I’m really funny about seeing my work on paper. I need to look at it printed out, it’s the best way I can check my work. Once I have completed the visual check, then I’ll send it out.

Generally, I’m pretty fast at visually checking it. I’ve always been a very fast reader. Thank God! In the mean time, I’ll keep adding new and interesting things to the site and my myspace page for everyone.  I’m half way done with the revision. I chose a more challenging route to write this book. It was done over a year ago, sent out to publishers and agents and accepted for publishing, then it was decieded to change the book into third person point of view. I had originally written it in first person point of view. Which is basically talking as if you were personally doing something( e.g.”I”).  This has been a challenege and a good learning experience.  I hope everyone loves it when finally is out “into the world of print”. I love it, after all, its mine, my mind, my creative vision, and the first in a series. I have unlimited ideas for this….

Slainte!

Heidi

Revisions

May 23, 2007 | Uncategorized

Revisions are going well. I’ve got 10,000 words to cut and so far have cut quite a few. I’m racing to get this done becasue I’ve had a lot of inquires. Right now, the script is 480 pgaes, so cuts are necessary!
Slainte!

Heidi

Better—–My Mom is doing better….thanks for the support

May 21, 2007 | Uncategorized