Steps on the Journey

New Directions 2012

Hazel — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:43:45 GMT

Unlike many NaNoWriMo participants I have talked with, I did not reach the 50,000 word goal during the November 2011 challenge. I made it to a paltry 20,000. My failure mainly had to do with a lack of knowledge of my setting, which was 1850s Kansas. I had a runaway thirteen-year-old girl traveling from a small settlement near Pawnee to Kansas City, but I had only a vague idea of the people and places she would encounter. While I stopped to research, time slipped away. Although I failed to reach my word goal, I was led to a deepening interest in Kansas history and to new directions and adventures.

Part of my research plan for 2012 is to visit Kansas museums and report on what I find. If you have a favorite Kansas museum, please let me know. I'll be writing a brief review of each one I visit. If you are interested in Kansas museums and history, you may want to subscribe.

What Happened to 2011?

Hazel — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:24:52 GMT

It's that time of year again, the time between my birthday on December 1 and the start of a new year, the time when I begin taking stock of what I have done in the eleven months since I made my New Year's resolutions. Correction: I look at what I haven't done and get depressed. I have not achieved poster status for healthy living. My novel is not on the best seller list. Who could have predicted that I would fail to achieve such lofty goals?

Seeking to overcome the glumness that accompanies dwelling on goals not reached, I decided to focus on my 2011 accomplishments. As I started listing them I was surprised at how many there were.

Organizations: I joined or renewed membership in Kansas Authors Club, Kansas Writers Association, Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc., and Writers Matrix.
Awards: My short, short story "Flashes" took first place in Kansas Authors Club and Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. (OWFI) contests.
Conference: I attended the OWFI conference in May and got excited about e-books.
E-book publishing: I published novels and short story collections on Smashwords and Amazon.
Videos: I learned to shoot and edit videos with my Kodak Play Sport camera and Microsoft Moviemaker software and uploaded book review videos to YouTube.
Vlog: Partnered with Bonnie Myrick to start Keyhole Conversations, where we talk to characters about their authors.

Looking at my accomplishments, most of which were not on my 2011 resolutions list, I feel much better about the year. So much better, in fact, that I'd like to spread the cheer. Let's all say goodbye to 2011 feeling a sense of accomplishment. Please continue the discussion by leaving a comment and tell what you did do.

Searching for Hazel Hart

Hazel — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:39:58 GMT

Have you ever searched your name on Google? I have, and I think I need to make it clear who I am not.

I am not the first Hazel Hart entry with a Facebook link. I am on Facebook, but the link will take you to Hazel Hart in Lethridge, Alberta. This lady is running for alderman. While I agree with her stand on synchronizing stoplights, I am not a politician.

On about page three of the Google results, I found a link for the pedigree of a thoroughbred named Hazel Hart. I am not a race horse.

Somewhere on the first three pages of links is a listing for a vacant lot on Hazel Street, in Hart, Michigan. I am not a vacant lot.

And every Google search page for my name brought up listings for the Hazel Hart Hendricks Elementary School. Although I share a passion for education with the woman whose name is a part of the school's name, I am not that person and certainly not that school.

So who am I?

I am the Hazel Hart who teaches at Butler Community College and is rated at RateMyProfessors.com, but I am too chicken to click on that link and read the comments.

I am the Hazel Hart who co-wrote Dark Side of the Rainbow and Edge of Nowhere with B.J. Myrick. I also wrote two suspense novels, The Night before Christmas, available on Smashwords, and Like Mother, Like Daughter, available on Amazon.com. My book of short stories about a talk show and its guests and viewers, The Nancy Nolan Show, is currently available on Lulu and will soon be on Smashwords.

My goal now is to find a way to beat out a politician, a race horse, a vacant lot, and an elementary school for a top spot on Google search. Any ideas?
Hazel

New Beginnings

Hazel — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:39:21 GMT

It isn't fall on the calendar, but school starts next week, and that has always been a signal of new beginnings for me. In the two weeks since the summer session ended, I have updated my online composition courses and spent the rest of my time dipping into Smashwords, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Now that I'm on all those places, I'm not sure what to do with them. My biggest social media accomplishment so far is uploading a book trailer, created by B.J. Myrick for my novella, Kiss Mummy Goodnight, to YouTube.

Uploading the book trailer has been my big achievement on social media. As for publishing with Smashwords, I have managed to upload four books and get them in the premium catalog. If you'd like to download samples of any of my books, go to my Smashwords page and click on a book you'd like to sample. The link will take you to a download page.

That's about enough of the shameless self-promotion for one day. What I'd like to know from you is whether you are on any or all of these sites and what you like or dislike about them? Did you join, like I did, because everyone said you should? Have you found them useful? Do you have a tip for the new people starting out?

Share your thoughts on social media sites, and as soon as I learn how to do something on them, I'll share mine.
Hazel

The NaNoWriMo Challenge

Hazel — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 10:17:00 GMT

My grandmother used to subscribe to the saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." That attitude is part of what makes me a seasoned aspirer, and being a seasoned aspirer brought me back to the NaNoWriMo challenge. Although I tried last year and fell far short of 50,000 words, the idea of a complete draft of a novel in thirty days was too much of a carrot not to try again.

This year, I have a writing buddy. I also have a list of write-ins and other NaNoWriMo events being held in Wichita. I am hoping some interaction with others who have the same goal will keep me focused, while at the same time, I want to be careful not to be social that I forget to write.

If you are a writer and up for the challenge, there is still time to sign up. Then, if you like support, look for your home region to locate write-ins in your area. And if you sign up, please post and let us all know how you are doing.
Hazel

Not a Politician--and not a Winner

Hazel — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:20:00 GMT

On September 25, 2010, the Hutchinson Public Library, Hutchinson, Kansas, hosted the Prairie Book Festival. In connection with the event, the library held three contests, one of which was a "longest sentence" contest. I was not a winner. Not having anything else to do with the sentence, I thought I would share it with you. While it was written during the primary season when people of the same party were battling each other, it applies equally well now that opposing parties are smearing each other. Are you as frustrated by all this as I am?

Here is the sentence, all 356 words of it:

If you have turned on your television recently, you have probably heard all the nasty, negative, revolting, dirty, underhanded, slimy, reprehensible lies about me that my mudslinging opponents have been packing their ads with, particularly the ads approved by Jill Washington Insider, who claims that I, Joe Candidate, a congressman running for U. S. Senate, have voted for abortion, tax increases, government takeover of health care, legalization of illegal aliens, giving rights to terrorists, and gun control, and, the most reprehensible lie of all, that I, Joe Candidate, am a politician; I want to assure you that I am not a politician: I was not born in Canada, my parents are not French, and what I am, beyond the shadow of a doubt, is a U.S. citizen with a birth certificate on file in Topeka, Kansas, because Kansas is the state of my birth, my father's birth, my grandfather's birth, and my great-grandfather's birth, not to mention all the women in my family who were also born in Kansas, so all this talk that I am an illegal alien trying to ship Kansas jobs to Mexico is pure hogwash, hogwash being a good Kansas term for stupidity, along with terms such as gibberish, claptrap, hooey, and bunkum, and I, Joe Candidate, am, was, and always will be a businessman (not a politician) whose roots run deep in Kansas, and if you elect me I will stop big government, tax increases, government bailouts, and get the government out of health care, and I am also pro life, pro gun, and pro death penalty, so if you believe as I do, that Kansas needs a senator who will stand up to the Washington politicians, then vote for me, Joe Candidate, not a politician, but a businessman who has created jobs, unlike my opponent, Jill Washington Insider, a woman you cannot trust who spends all her time rubbing elbows with Washington politicians instead of spending time in Kansas and finding out what Kansas citizens with small town Kansas values want, and I am proud to say that I am Joe Candidate (not a politician) and I approved this message.

And Then She Was Gone

Hazel — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:38:00 GMT

Early on the morning of Thursday, September 8, I was packing to leave on my trip to the Writer's Digest Intensive in Cincinnati. At about the same time, my sixteen-year-old granddaughter Kasi was leaving for school with the promise that on her return home that afternoon, she would bake a cake for her father's birthday, which was the following day.

At six o'clock that evening, as I was putting the last suitcase in the car, my daughter (Kasi's aunt) called. "Kasi was in an accident," she said. She's dead."

My son's beautiful, smart daughter, so full of life, was gone.

Minutes later, my son called and confirmed the sad news. "I don't know what to do," he said.

My heart echoed that thought as I cancelled my plans and headed for Emporia. That night and into the next morning, the details of the accident became clearer.

Kasi and three friends were driving home from school when the car veered toward the edge of the road and the driver pulled back too sharply. The car slid into the oncoming lane of traffic and was hit by a pickup. Thrown from the car, Kasi's body flew threw the air and landed hard on the ground. In only seconds, she went from a vivacious teenager to a dying girl. And she was not alone.

None of the four teenagers were wearing seat belts. Three of the four died .

Kasi will not bake her father a birthday cake. Instead, her parents must bury her.

Please, if you don't wear a seat belt, start buckling up. There is no time when the crash comes.

Two Birds--One Stone

Hazel — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:21:00 GMT

As a seasoned aspirer, I really like it when I can accomplish two goals at once or, as the old saying goes, "kill two birds with one stone." Traveling to new places is the first bird. This coming Thursday, I will do just that as I go on a road trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, to attend a Writer's Digest Intensive. I will be traveling through several states, including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio on the trip out and Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas on the trip home. With the exception of Trimble, Missouri, and a tiny bit of Kansas City, that state and all the others mentioned are new ground for me. Travel has been one of those activities I have put off until "next year" for decades. A year ago, travel became a reality with a road trip to California and my first trip to the Pacific Ocean. With this trip, I am continuing the the quest to see more of our country.

The second bird and major reason for this trip is to attend the Writer's Digest Intensive on September 11 and 12. The first day, Saturday, will be devoted to presentations on marketing. Chuck Sambuchino, editor of Guide to Literary Agents will be speaking on queries and agents. Jane Friedman, publisher and editorial director for Writer's Digest, will discuss using digital media in various ways, including networking, website building, and blogging. On Sunday, I'll have a thirty-minute one-on-one session with a WD editor to discuss the first fifty pages of my novel, The Rune-Master (women's fiction, suspense) with an eye toward what I need to do to make the book market ready. I am preparing for this trip by reading the presenters' blogs and making a list of questions to ask.

I will be taking my laptop and blogging about my experiences as I go, so check back for first-hand reports from the travel/marketing front on such exciting topics as "Have Bed Bugs Really Taken Over the Hotels and Motels of Middle America?" and "How I Learned to Tweet as Well as Tweety Bird."

Amazon.com Author Central Update

Hazel — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:32:00 GMT

I got word this morning that my author page was up in Amazon.com's Author Central area. I've added my picture and bio. I think the bio needs additions and was almost ready to use those additions as an excuse to wait on posting the bio. However, I was able to recognize that excuse for procrastination and overcome it. Here's the link to the Hazel Hart author page.

If you have a book listed on Amazon but haven't signed up for an author page, visit Amazon's Author Central for more information.

Ninety-seven Days

Hazel — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:18:00 GMT

According to the statistics gathered by GoDaddy, it has been ninety-seven days since my last post. All of the technology for marketing, including My Space, Facebook, Twitter, and You-Tube, overwhelmed me. Just thinking about mastering all these "necessary" avenues for reaching an audience, branding myself, and building a platform left me mentally frozen.

However, with October's activities fast approaching, I'm attempting to thaw out. On Saturday, October 10, I will be speaking to a local writing group about the pros and cons of self-publishing. The following weekend, October 16-18, I'll be attending the Kansas Authors Club convention in Topeka, Kansas. Finally, on October 24, Bonnie and I will be selling our books at the Chisholm Book Festival in Duncan, Oklahoma.

With so much happening and a new book--Like Mother, Like Daughter--to promote, I am taking baby steps toward social networking with a goal of one activity a day. Since my books are on amazon.com, I started there yesterday by signing up for an author page with Amazon's Author Central. Having the page will allow readers to follow a link from my book sales pages to my author information. It will be about a week until the author page is available. I'll post a link here as soon as the page is live.

Getting back into blogging is my baby step for today. I'll let you know what tomorrow brings.

Chisholm Book Festival

Hazel — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:52:00 GMT

Tonya Shook, organizer of the Border Queen Book Festival in Comanche, Oklahoma, has moved the next festival a few miles north to Duncan, Okalahoma. The new Chisholm Book Festival on October 24 will have seventy authors displaying their books. Bonnie and I are happy to be a part of this new festival as we enjoyed participating in the Border Queen Festival (see previous entry on this site).

For more on the participating authors and their books, visit the Chisholm Book Festival web page.

Completing a Creative Cycle

Hazel — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:19:00 GMT

From about 2001 to 2007, I juggled three novel manuscripts, sporadically dipping in and out of them as first one and then another captured my attention. I started writing the first novel, The Night before Christmas, in the 1970s. Family History, the second novel, was begun in the 1980s. The third novel, Runemaster, was actually begun in the current decade.

Some people say that you should consider your first novels as practice and store them away in a trunk or closet. I tried that, but every year or so, the characters in my novels would call to me. They were unhappy being housed in a cardboard box. They clamored to be between the covers of a book and shelved with other books. Until that happened, their creative cycles would not be complete, and that lack of completeness would continue to be a drag on my ability to create new work.

At the beginning of 2008, frustrated with the regular submission process, I decided to self publish The Night before Christmas. Since I am better at writing than promoting, I haven't sold many copies, but my characters, Betty and Wes, no longer haunt me. The story of their marriage is in a book and available on lulu.com if anyone should choose to buy it.

For the rest of 2008, I struggled with what to do with Family History. Here was another novel filled with characters I had loved for decades. At first, I planned to self publish again. Then, I considered the traditional route, only to remember how months and years can go by waiting for agents and editors to reply. At last, I decided to go with Publish America. I realize there are pros and cons to this decision, but for me, giving the book a final form in the light of day will release me to create new projects.

Now, I can give my attention to Runemaster, a story I actually started in this decade. My goal is to complete it in this decade. Since this is 2009. I'd better get to work.

Edge of Nowhere: Published at Last

Hazel — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:48:00 GMT

After our editing party at the lake last summer, Bonnie and I fully expected to have our second book of short horror fiction published within a month. Cover woes and file gremlins kept delaying us, but this morning, all was ready. I uploaded Edge of Nowhere to lulu.com and made it available for sale, both as a 6X9 paperback and a download.

In the title story, "The Edge of Nowhere," two
sisters move into a house inhabited by a demon. Click here for preview pages of this story.

Other stories in the collection include "Cry Wolf,"
in which a woman fears her twin sister is dating
a werewolf and "A Shrill Note," in which a
husband contemplates the murder of his wife.

Gifts and Sales Tax

Hazel — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:30:00 GMT

Collecting and paying sales tax seems simple, doesn't it? I thought so anyway. As a self-published writer, my concept was that I would sell something, collect the appropriate amount of sales tax, and send the money off to the state during my designated reporting period. I never considered that I would also need to pay sales tax on the books I gave to my family and friends.

Here is the scenario:
I used lulu.com to publish my novel and bought the book at cost. Lulu did not charge a sales tax, which is correct because the book became part of my inventory. When I gave one copy to my mom and another copy to a prizewinner in a drawing, I took the books out of inventory and converted them to personal use. That made me the "final consumer" of the books, which meant I owed sales tax on the price I paid for them.

I learned this bit of information and more at a free sales tax workshop last Wednesday. If you do business in Kansas, you may want to check for times and locations of future workshops at http://www.ksrevenue.org. The workshop also covered record keeping, withholding taxes for those who have employees, and compensating use tax.

If you live and have a business outside Kansas, check your state's website for similar workshops. The best time to get this information: before you start the business. That way you can jot down the gifts to Mom, Dad, Uncle Joe, and the city library as you give them. Remember: Taxing agencies love clear and accurate records, and they make your life easier, too.

Weight Loss Tips and Artificial Sweeteners

Hazel — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:12:00 GMT

Whenever I see an article containing tips on weight loss, I give it at least a quick scan. A January 3, 2009 article in my local paper was no exception. The title, "Small tips for fitness success," caught my eye, and I quickly moved to the first bulleted tip: "Drink diet soda instead of regular."

Whoa! That advice ran counter to the reports on the effects of artificial sweeteners on weight loss that I had seen in various media in the past year. While I'm no scientist and can't give you any advice on what you should or shouldn't eat and drink, you might want to click on the links below for more information.

Science Daily, February 2008
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080210183902.htm

ABC News, Feb 11, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/Story?id=4271246&page=1

Time, February 10, 2008
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1711763,00.html

A final thought: A list of tips may contain ideas that are passed on from one list to another. They do not necessarily reflect the latest scientific knowledge. Doing a quick Internet search for information on sites you can trust may keep your from following a faulty tip.
Hazel

Party with a Purpose

Hazel — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:57:00 GMT

Last Sunday afternoon, I met with my online critique group in a brick and mortar restaurant/bar for some face-to face-fun and support. Given the day of the week and the 2 p.m. time, we expected to find a quiet corner to discuss writing, but the placed was packed with dartboard enthusiasts engaging in playoffs for an upcoming tournament. After some discussion, we decided to stay for food and drinks and the first half of our intended program: 2008 accomplishments and 2009 resolutions. Later, we would adjourn to a library to discuss our works in progress and techniques to improve our writing.

The five of us began with food, drinks, and a recounting by each person of her 2008 accomplishments, which included writing for a set amount of time every day, winning contests, publishing books, presenting writing workshops, creating web sites and blogs, and other activities. By the time we had completed the bragfest, we were feeling great about ourselves and were ready to move on to 2009 resolutions. Our pledges included time commitments, novels to finish, and marketing strategies to utilize. By the time we were ready to move to the library for a discussion of our current works in progress and techniques for improving them, an enthusiasm for our work in the coming year was building.

After forming a caravan to the library, we settled in a vacant study room just the right size for our group and got down to a general discussion of our work. With previously critiqued chapter in front of us, we each talked about our characters, their overall story goals and the obstacles in their paths. I brought some information on the order information is given in scenes and sequels (as gleaned from Jack Bickham's Scene & Structure), and we looked at ways we might re-order and expand on certain scenes and chapters.

The problem with libraries is that they close early on Sunday. At about a quarter to five, we got our first time warning. During a quick wrap up, Arlene presented us each with pocket diaries perfect for jotting down ideas while on the go. Bonnie gave each of us a packet filled with writing charts, including forms to keep track of writing time (a great thing to do if you are presenting your expenses to the IRS on a Schedule C). There were also worksheets on marketing and character and plot development. Armed with these gifts and high spirits, we were shooed out of the room and were off to an exciting and productive new year.

Writing in the New Year

Hazel — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:26:00 GMT

At 11:58 p.m. on New Year's Eve, I finished a sentence at the bottom of three pages of a kidnapping scene, saved it, and sent if off via e-mail to Bonnie, my relentless friend who was responsible for my writing it that night. The scene wasn't finished, but I had brought the kidnapper to the main character's door armed with chloroform and God's approval.

It's been almost a year since I told Bonnie about the planned kidnapping scene, but many things have interrupted my writing. She has periodically pleaded, nagged, harangued, and used other tactics to numerous to mention in an effort to get the scene out of me. You see, Junior is her favorite character in my novel in progress, Runemaster. As the son of an overbearing fundamentalist preacher, Junior's hopes for a television ministry of his own are dashed when his father spends the church's money to pay off a blackmailer. To add to Junior's woes, the woman he has adored for almost fifteen years wants nothing to do with him and seems to be attracted to a psychic. Certain she is possessed, Junior kidnaps the love of his life in the hope of exorcising the demon(s). Once she is free of Satan's influences, she will love him.

Junior's had a hard life filled with disappointment, but he has a good heart, so Bonnie really wants him to win. Right now, I don't think he can. We'll have to see. In the meantime, I brought in the new year writing a scene I had been putting off and brought this novel in progress back on my radar of things to do. The year is off to a great start.

Hazel

Does Everyone Need Counseling?

Hazel — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:45:00 GMT

The question in the title was asked by Jane Glenn Haas in a recent Wichita Eagle article. Haas was reflecting on Oprah's weight gain statement that, unknowingly, she had become depressed and used food as a drug. Following that reasoning, Haas wondered if the 133.6 milion adult Americans who are overweight all needed therapy.

While counseling wouldn't hurt, there may be a wait if all 133.6 milion of us try to make an appointment at once. While we are waiting, we might try some simple things to lift our mood. One is to step outside and take a deep breath of fresh air. Then walk to the end of the block and back. This is not an exercise for the purpose of burning calories, so take it slow and observe the world around you. Depending on the season, see bare skeletons of trees, buds busting forth on limbs, or leaves forming a green halo. Feel the sun and the air. Take deep, even breaths as you walk.

When you get back to your home, find a place to sit and spend another five minutes breathing deeply and observing the present moment: tree branches moving in the wind, cars passing, children playing, whatever is before you. This small break in your routine will, at least momentarily, calm your mind and increase the oxygen your body needs to work properly. Give it a try.
Hazel

Snow Days

Hazel — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:28:00 GMT

The snow came at just the right time for me. On Monday, my mother arrived from Wellington, and I met her at the nursing home here in Wichita to help her get settled. When the snow fell Monday evening and lingered into Tuesday, there was no pressing reason for me to go out. Instead, I stayed home and tackled the book room, which contains mostly books but also a large amount of miscellaneous.

At noon, I was picking my way among the boxes throughout my apartment as I tried to make room for organization to happen. By the evening, I had selected three cartons of books to donate and had a stack of perhaps 300 books for which I wanted to check values before I let them go. Letting go, as I've said before, is hard for me.

This morning, I looked out the door and saw the world was still too frozen for me to venture out, so today will be devoted to finishing the reorganization of the book room. I've been needing these two days for a long time. The snow finally gave them to me.

What has the snow given you, either now or in the past? If you have a snow story, please leave a comment.
Hazel

Letting Go of Books

Hazel — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:34:00 GMT

Last Sunday's paper contained an article titled "Living with only 100 things." Dave Bruno of San Diego has challenged himself to reduce his personal possessions to 100 things (with some admitted rule stretching). I was attracted to the article because as a result of recent and repeated instances of downsizing my mother's possessions as she moved from independent to assisted living, and from assisted living to skilled nursing, and, finally, to an Alzheimer's unit, my daughter has urged me to start getting rid of my stuff.

Out of respect for the fact that my daughter has answered every plea for help I have issued as I dealt with my mother's possessions, I have tried to get rid of some of the items clogging my apartment, but most of those items are books, and while I haven't read most of them, I may want to some day. Even Dave of the "100 thing challenge" stretched the rules when it came to books and lumped them all as one thing: his library. If I did that, I could easily get down to 100 things.

Unfortunately, it's my books that my daughter would like to see reduced in number. She doesn't see them as one thing but as the thousands of individual items they are. They fill an entire room and overflow into several bookcases in my bedroom and living room. Then there are the stacks on the floor because there aren't enough shelves. I tell her that unlike her grandmother, I have not stored money or family pictures in my books. All she will need to do is call a used book dealer and say, "Come get them."

In the past month, I have donated about six boxes containing approximately 150 books to various thrift stores. At one drop off location, I winced as the warehouse person lifted the boxes out of my car and bounced them onto ground during the unloading process. I worried about bumped corners and bent covers. I love books. Seeing them mistreated really put the brakes on my ability to let go.

While writing this, my eyes kept straying to a nearby bookshelf and a book titled Basic Macrobiotic Cooking. I can't tell you exactly how long I have owned this book, but it has occupied that specific shelf for at least a year. I have never used a recipe from this book, and I'm not into macrobiotics although there was a time I thought it would be interesting to try. As I looked at the book, I thought, "I will never use that book. I will put it in the donation box." With the intention of doing just that, I picked up the book. The subtitle, Procedures of Grain and Vegetable Cookery, sounded interesting, so I flipped through the book and was caught up in layered vegetables, granola, and yin and yang theory. I checked the copyright page and saw the book was a first edition. Then I thought about the information. What if someday I write a story with a main character who eats only macrobiotic foods? I need this book for possible research. It is now back on the shelf.

I'm with Dave; a library is ONE thing. But how about clothes? Are all those jeans and shirts I might be able to get into now that I am exercising again individual items that may need discarding, or can I label my clothes a wardrobe and keep them all?