Yvonne Navarro's Blog

DARK REDEMPTION!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:06:00 +0000

THE DARK REDEMPTION WEBSITE IS UP - http://www.darkredemption.net/ - Please come visit. Comments welcome! :)

And the Winner Is...

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:16:00 +0000

The lucky winner of the "Be a Character in CONCRETE SAVIOR" eBay Auction is none other than GAK himself! Congratulations!

Be a Character in one of my Novels!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:58:00 +0000

The eBay auction to be a character in CONCRETE SAVIOR has officially started! Go here: Item number 180457374043.

Come on-- haven't you always wanted to be in a book? Here's your chance, plus it's for a good cause. Auction proceeds go to Deaf Dane Rescue, Inc. of Oakridge, Oregon.

Come and join the adventure!

CONCRETE SAVIOR Character Auction Tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:10:00 +0000

Auction to be a character in CONCRETE SAVIOR goes up tomorrow! Be a HIGHBORN fan at http://tinyurl.com/y9cswxk and stay informed! WHEEEE!

A Little Auction Fun for CONCRETE SAVIOR!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:07:00 +0000

To make things fun in writing CONCRETE SAVIOR, I will be running at least one eBay auction in the near future for someone to have their name used for a character of my choosing in the book. I'll likely do two auctions, one male and one female. The proceeds of the auction(s) will benefit my favorite Deaf Dane rescue. There's no firm date for the auctions yet, but the date will probably be pretty soon. I'll keep everyone posted.

CONCRETE SAVIOR is the second book in the DARK REDEMPTION Series. The first book, HIGHBORN, is the story of a powerful fallen angel who must tread the human world to find redemption and regain everything she lost before the fall.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Good News, Good Tidings!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:20:00 +0000

The Good News: Juno Books has picked up HIGHBORN and its sequel, CONCRETE SAVIOR. HIGHBORN will be published in September 2010, at the same time CONCRETE SAVIOR is due to be completed and submitted. My long-time friend Paula Guran will be the editor for both books. Yay! HIGHBORN is the story of a fallen angel who has escaped from Hell and is determined to find forgiveness and a way back into Heaven. Its main character is a kick-butt female trying to understand and reconnect with humankind, and it's non-stop action.

The Good Tidings: Here's wishing everyone out there a great holiday season and a Merry Christmas! As we set aside our differences during this time of year, my hope is that each and every one of us decides to leave those differences aside permanently. Wherever you are, whatever you believe, may you find peace, happiness, health, and a season filled with love and light. May you also always be warm, have a good meal to fill your belly, and a loving hand to hold.

Yvonne

Turkey Day!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:08:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. No matter where you are in the world, I hope you're happy, healthy, your belly is pleasantly full, and you're with people you love.

Off to TusCon 36!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Where The Husband -- Weston Ochse -- is Guest of Honor! We expect to have a fine and fun time, and hope to see everyone there. Check out his LJ link above for his schedule. Here's mine:

Saturday @ 5:00 - Psychological Horror vs. Viscera. Knowles, McMillan, Ochse, Navarro. (St. Augustine Room)

Sunday @ 10:00 - How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse. Ochse, Edwards, Navarro, Bryant, Billick. (Gold Ballroom)

Sunday @ 3:00 - Creative Partners who live and/or work together. Hammer, Simner, Ochse, Navarro, Shetterly, Bull. (St Augustine Room)

Short and sweet, so I can hang around The Husband all weekend and bask in his Guest of Honorness. :-)

What's Up, World?

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:02:00 +0000

Nope, haven't forgotten about Blogger-land. Just busy busy busy, and something has to give. That something has to be computer time, because I'm finally realizing that if you let it, the Internet will take over your freaking LIFE and you won't get anything else accomplished. It's like electronic crack, and guess what? I ain't buying. :)

So, a post once in awhile. Right now I'm unsupervised as The Husband is TDY -- Temporary Duty (elsewhere). Yee ha! To keep me busy I have a geology test on Monday and painting classes going on, in addition to the writing. Plus my company was bought out by a HUGE corporation, and we're just now starting to see the effects of it. This is going to involve some pain in my position, because I fairly certain I'm going to get stuck with making sure everyone else does what they're supposed to do. Nope, not happy about that, not at all.

But life goes on. In the meantime...

I'm waiting for news. Keep your fingers crossed. :)

Cheerio!

von

Ghost & Her Shot at Fame! (or maybe a new bed pad)

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:01:00 +0000

Hi Everyone!

We got word that our beloved blue-eyed girl, Ghost, is one of the contestants in Kuranda's Dog of the Week contest. If she wins, she gets a nifty, soft pad to go on top of her bed. If you have a few seconds, please go on over and vote for our sweet little deaf girl!

http://kuranda.com/blog/dog-of-the-week/

Thank you. :)

Von, Wes, Ghost, Goblin,
Edwina Alan Poe & BirdZilla

HIGHBORN!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:03:00 +0000

is officially FINISHED. 100,649 words. Now it's off to the agent with the full outline and proposals for two follow-up books. Fingers crossed!

HIGHBORN..!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:30:00 +0000

... is officially finished in first draft as of yesterday, August 2nd. Now to the read-through. Ta-Da!

Fun Stuff on Amazon -- My Recs

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:15:00 +0000

BLAZE OF GLORY!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:08:00 +0000

The Husband's new novel, Blaze of Glory, went up for pre-order this morning. It has a fantastic vintage-type cover, and it's going fast. It's called BLAZE OF GLORY.

A Few Words for My Fav Guy!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:13:00 +0000

Today is The Husband's (westonochse) Birthday. I love him lots and here's a few words Of The Day to roll around in his head, courtesy of Neil Himself:

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.
I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who
thinks you're wonderful, and don't to forget make some art --
write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.
And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.
-Neil Gaiman, 2001

I've Been Quoted!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:58:00 +0000

And right smackity at the beginning, too!

http://bit.ly/oW8c4

Question: Anyone reading this? There've been zip for comments, and frankly, I'm considering letting this blog go dead. If no one's reading it anyway, why waste time that I could spend writing?

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:44:00 +0000

Okay, for those folks who couldn't get over to see the paper (and those I sent the pdf to but it was wonky or something), here it is... ta da!

My birthday yesterday was pretty good, except at the end, when The Husband's () PT Cruiser, which he was driving on the way home, shredded its timing belt, which then destroyed the engine. I'm not kidding. I'm not exaggerating. But we had it towed and then went to dinner anyway, and left the stressing out about this particular Very Dead Car for today. (And boy, are we good at that stressing out part.)

Goblin's on the Front Page of the Sunday Paper!

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Yes, it's true. Our Goblin became famous in the Army-sponsored Mutt March yesterday morning:

The Sierra Vista Herald - Sunday May 3, 2009

(He is not scared. No, he's not. He's a big, tough, 140-pound Great Dane and he is NOT scared of that lamb. Really.)

I'm posting the pdf because the paper image will change with the next issue, and they didn't put the same stuff n the website. The website url is www.svherald.com.

Later yesterday, The Evil Husband () and a bunch of friends from work COMPLETELY fooled me into thinking I was going to a small party for some folks up from Tucson at friend Scott's house. When we walked in, The Husband suddenly shoves me in front of him and pushes me forward (picture him hiding from a sniper and using me as a shield). I stumble into the kitchen and everyone yells "SURPRISE!!!" at the top of their lungs.

Early birthday party. I cannot believe I completely, utterly, without-any-reservations fell for the story they fed me all week long. Sheesh.

Cake. Presents. Friends. Family. White Zin. Three Jello shots (yes, 3). Watermelon shot (just one -- wowza.). Some kind of store-bought spinach dip that was incredibly yummy for some reason. Crunchy potatoes, burgers, sausages, chips, dips, veggies.

Gosh. The Evil Husband and those guys are just great, aren't they? :)

Remembering Lily - January 14, 2003 - May 1, 2006

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:02:00 +0000

"The Fifth Season"

Walk with me a little while.

We will walk together in Spring, with new life bursting around us.

Summertime, side by side we will lie in the sun together, our hearts warm with the good company of best friends.

We will traverse fields in Autumn, with golden leaves soft under our feet, brisk wind at our backs.

Winter brings us to the cozy hearth, dozing by the fire, flickers of embers reflected in our eyes.

There is a fifth season, unnamed, unfathomable, when the leash must be hung on the wall, no longer making the visible connection we have to one another.

Yet the invisible one remains.

Always I will be a part of you as you are of me.

My friend, my heart, my Great Dane.

(March 23, 2004) --Lyn Hamer Cook

The Meter of Progress Moves Slowly...

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:08:00 +0000

Last look at the meter was 11/19, when it was 66666 words. Really.

-- and --

I did this Personality Report awhile ago and meant to post it. It's way past time, or I'll forget forever.
It's fun and very visual, with pictures of all the things in the world I find yummy and must-have. When
it first came out, it had the code to embed so you could see the images on LJ. Now, alas, you must
follow the link. That's what I get for procrastinating!

Gawd. Pteradactyls flying around outside. They're common on Sunday mornings, you know.
(Note to Self: Remember umbrella if going outside.)

Double Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:43:00 +0000

First, a posting for The Husband, who did a (slightly risque) interview with Metal Crypt on April 20th. You can listen to it for free right here, but you might want to watch your tender ears. His Famousness is Global-Galavanting in Romania right now, but still checking his email and whatnot. I'm sure he'd love to see some comments.

From Me: Once again I am going to walk in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. This takes place on May 8th, and of course, our Relay is in our little part of the Arizona world, in Veterans' Memorial Park in Sierra Vista. I'm dedicating this year's efforts to our LJ friend Richard, who died from a brain tumor in the wee hours of the morning on March 7, 2007. Richard was younger than I am, and while I never knew him personally, I also haven't forgotten him. Please support me if you can spare a little. Everything helps, even just a dollar. the "just a dollar"s all add up to Effort with a capital "E." My page (where you can see a neato picture of me with a ginormous snake wrapped around me -- I'm not kidding) is right HERE.

Thanks for reading this!

//von//

Hey, Say, 18 Today

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:35:00 +0000

Okay, not precisely today, but on Thursday, which was when my pretty little stepdaughter, Alex, turned 18. The Husband posted a picture on his LJ of her on her way to her Senior Prom last Saturday. This is when life shifts into second gear and the time really starts flying fast. I think the saying "It's all downhill from here" has more to do with the speed at which time passes rather than what happens being good or bad.

Let's see. Life goes on, work goes on, HIGHBORN is still not finished. The Husband has been traveling a lot, but there's been a lot of prep work happening for the prom and the Turning Of Age 18 rather than writing. In fact, we currently have a dozen or more giggling teenagers downstairs having the actual party celebration thereof. The Husband and I are confined to the upstairs, with the dogs. Such is what our life has come to... Gone to the Dawgs. ::grin::

The Tucson Festival of Books was lots of fun, notwithstanding the utterly useless campus map on the U of A website. I ask you: What possible good is a pdf map that is 60 INCHES WIDE? It's not like you can print it out and take it with you to find your way around the place. Sheesh.

Thumb Surgery Today

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:33:00 +0000

We said our final goodbyes to Nick yesterday at a Military Honors funeral at the Old Post Cemetery on Fort Huachuca. It was a little windy but the sun was out, low 60s, and a beautiful day as a result. Full six-gun salute, folding and presenting of the flag. Lots of people turned out, and if there's a place to be buried in the desert, this was it. Higher up in the Huachucas, the Old Post Cemetery has lots of trees, animals (including bears and mountain lions), and beautiful, restful views all around. And sadly, lots of company.

I have thumb surgery at 10:45 today, where for some reason, they've decided to go with a general anesthetic. No one likes general anesthesia-- there's too much unpredictability about it. Remember Oliva Goldsmith, best-selling author of the First Wives' Club, in the prime of her life and career? She had a minor plastic surgery procedure... and died on the table. I also remember my friend Dorothy Harrington, who in the mid-90s, went under for a biopsy on a tumor in her brain and never woke up. Yes, I'm having morbid thoughts, which aren't helped by all the morbid dreams I had last night. So.

And of course, since I can't have any, I want a big glass of ice water!

Farewell to Nick...

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:29:00 +0000

Another friend went to eternity very early yesterday morning. Nicholas Paraskevas was a coworker, and one of the nicest people with whom I've ever had the honor of working. He was easy-going, pleasant, unfailingly honest, and spoke with a heavy Mexican accent... but would insist it was you who had the accent, not him. I worked with him for the last six years, and The Husband (

westonochse

) knew him for over twenty, having first encountered him in one of the military courses on Fort Huachuca, where Nick was the instructor and The Husband was the brand new student. The students where we currently work always remembered him and were impressed by how much they learned from him. If you asked him (in English or in Spanish) how he was, he would always answer (in English or Spanish), "I don't know." But occasionally, you could catch him off guard and he'd say "Good!" He always had a smile, and he was always friendly. His leaving took everyone by surprise, and he was only 6 years older than me. This is not the best photo of him, but it's the only one I have on the computer at home. It's cropped from a larger one taken in December 2006.

Sleep well, Nick. We really, really miss you.

Dinner Time at the Mansion (or How to Sing for Your Supper)

noreply@blogger.com (yvonnenavarro) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 03:33:00 +0000

Who needs words when you can have music?