Today is Arbor Day, International Astronomy Day, Great Poetry Reading Day, Kiss Your Mate Day and the birthday of Harper Lee, Terry Pratchett, Charles Cotton, Karl Kraus, Rowland Evans, Carolyn Cassady, Lois Duncan,Roberto Bolano, Ian Rankin, Jennifer Rardin

Tip: Start a spreadsheet or ledger sheet, one for each manuscript you have, and track who it is sent to, when, how much it cost you to send, and what the response was.

Thought: “I write plays for people who wouldn’t be seen dead in the theatre.” –  Barrie Keeffe

Teaser: Your character is a workaholic but is being forced to take some time off. What does s/he do for “fun” or to “relax”? Does s/he go somewhere? Or stay home and keep working in secret? What drives him or her?

Note: A very long time ago, in a town far, far away, my husband and I owned five acres of farmland in the middle of nowhere. We were both in love with trees and this land had none. Not even bushes. So we bought saplings and planted some. 5000+ some. Mostly pines, firs, and other evergreens, but we also planted fruit trees for a small orchard. I went back there a few years ago just to see the old place and wow. We grew a forest and it is beautiful. As I think of what we did there, I also think of Dr. Zeuss’s book, The Lorax and the best line ever: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, things won’t get better. No they will not.” Do something good for the planet today.