Hi. My name’s Liz, and I’m a recovering lawyer. For as long as I can remember, I’ve entertained myself by creating stories in my mind. Some made me laugh. Some made me cry. All made me appear emotionally disturbed to the people around me. After practicing law for a couple of years, I returned to school to pursue yet another degree (I didn’t feel I was deep enough in debt). There, I rediscovered the joy of being bored to tears in class. One day, instead of taking notes on thermohaline circulation, I jotted down some dialogue running through my head. (My mid-term results were not pretty.) I haven’t stopped writing since.
When I received the invitation to participate in the Samhain Celebration here at RomanceNovel.tv, I Snoopy-danced through my apartment and shrieked with such enthusiasm, the neighbor’s dogs started to howl. Only now, sitting in front of a blank page do I realized: sometimes, I just don’t think things through.
Three things about me? Coming up with one was a struggle. For the record, no one said these facts had to be interesting (bet they add that to the rules next time). Here goes nothing…
1) I have worked two historic shipwrecks.
As part of my current degree (if I keep going to school, I don’t have to be a grown-up, right?), I have participated in two separate underwater archaeology field schools. One took place in the frigid, black depths of the Roanoke River in North Carolina and the other in the Florida Keys National Park off the coast of Key Largo. Guess which one I enjoyed more?
I do not have the skill to convey the sight of geeky, gangly, aspiring archaeologists (and one recovering lawyer) zipping themselves into wetsuits and strapping on carpenter’s tapes along with other tools – including mylar-covered, plastic kitchen cutting boards. (Don’t ask.) Trust me; there aren’t enough zip-ties in the world to keep all the various implements strapped to their respective nerds. The most fun of the Keys school was not the warm, clear water, but watching the various equipment – and occasional inverted archaeology student – float past.
2) I had a 1961 Corvette convertible.
Alas, I had to sell her. She was beautiful. She was silver and smoke with the double barrel headlights that are so classic and an engine that could out roar a Harley. I loved that car. If I ever had a rough day, all I had to do was take her for a drive. Not only did the drive itself cheer me up, so did the looks I received.
There is nothing as envious or hangdog as the look on a man’s face as you blow past his minivan in your classic ‘Vette. I learned quickly that a man’s reaction to me in that car could be predicted by the car he drove. For example, men in Camaros and small pick-ups absolutely hated to see me in that car. More than one of them tried to race me. Let me assure you, I never lost.
Of course, fueling the car was an interesting experience. This allowed people to approach me and comment. I had more than one man ask if my husband knew I had his car. I would smile sweetly and say, “I’m not married and please don’t touch my car.” I even had one man inform me that I had way too much disposable income.
I fully intend to own another classic Corvette one day. Next time, however, I want matching numbers and a 1958 model.
3) I am the grammar Nazi about whom your mother warned you.
I recognized there are arguably more important issues in the world, such as a spiraling economy and global conflict, but if you want to make my head spin ala Linda Blair, use nauseous when you mean nauseated, or fail to use an apostrophe “s” on a possessive that ends in “s” (e.g., “Mr. Jones’ dog” rather than “Mr. Jones’s dog”), or switch compose for comprise.
Alas, this has forced me to stop reading the local paper. After the fourth time I read the ad for a “poof” reader, and the front page headline that proudly proclaimed “Scholarships for Pubic School Students” (yes, pubic school), I decided I had to forego knowledge about local events in order to save my sanity. The real question is not what sick gene allows my brain to stick on the minutia, but why I can’t spot my own errors?
In sticking with my love of grammar, to win a copy of Immersed, which character in the excerpt has the same name as a grammatical term?
Loading ...
Maria Lokken
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 11:36 am:
Oh Liz – and I thought we were going to be such good friends. BUT – I’m afraid, you couldn’t be in the same town with me let alone in the same section of blogosphere – my grammar is atrocious. Seriously. When I went to school it was during that short lived ‘progressive’ period, where children were supposed to get the meaning of words by just reading the paragraph and not looking up the word. When it came to grammar they just didn’t feel it was important. So – I never know the difference between ‘its’ and ‘it’s’ and it’s been explained a million times.
However, now that I know your into Vettes – well – you’re my kind of gal!
K. Nelson
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 11:39 am:
Can we just say OMG,what an incredible cover??? Oh my! That cover is awesome!
Secondly, I find myself suddenly panic stricken that you are going to bust my punctuation error up there (3 ??? on the first sentence!) LOL
I think the answer to your trivia question is Gerund. Here’s what Wiki had to say about it….In linguistics, “gerund” is a term used to refer to various non-finite verb forms in various languages. Thank goodness for the internet.
Happy Hump Day!
Lily
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 12:07 pm:
Liz, how exciting that you were on two underwater archeological digs, sounds like a fun time was had by all.
Grammar and me? Or should that be Grammar and I? In any event, the two of us together is not a good combination. Or should I write, grammar and I do not get along? You’re making me nervous. I rely heavily on my spellcheck function. I agonize about writing emails and if I have to write anything longer then a thank you note I break out into a sweat.
Read the excerpt, clever question.
Answer: Gerund. Or should that be answering :Gerund?
Marisa
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 12:14 pm:
Hi Liz, thanks so much for joining us today. Yikes, I say, Yikes. First off I am a certified scuba diver, ask me the last time I went? YEARS, DECADES ago. I got certified in Wisconsin in a dark COLD lake and I did it to impress my beau. Oh yes. And every vacation we went scuba diving and every vacation I couldn’t wait to get back to work. So after we split, I gave away my flippers and weight belt and looked for some one who like dry land.
As for the whole grammar thing. Well it just gives me hives. If there was a grammar jail I’d be incarcerated.
How did you get into writing sci-fi futuristics?
Sheena
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 12:22 pm:
My answer: Gerund
I just read your excerpt, and it is amazing! Whether or not I win this book, I will be reading it very soon
Aka, hunting it down at either the library or Borders 
Ginger
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 12:26 pm:
Hi Liz, the answer is Gerund. And very good question.
Grammar Nazi huh? You sound very much like my mom. She was always correcting us. I don’t believe any of it stuck with me but I try.
I just started reading futuristic romances, I’ve been a historical and contemporary reader for many years, but I’m finally starting to branch out.
Kati
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 12:29 pm:
Hi Liz! Welcome to RNTV! I grew up with two grammar Nazi’s. I vividly remember doing an exercise where I walked back and forth across our family room carrying my lunch box. My dad would say, “Now what are you doing?” and I’d answer “I’m…bringing? my lunch box?” NO! But to this day, I know the difference between bring and take, who and whom, and less and fewer.
My biggest grammar pet peeve is people who misuse the word “unique.” It means one of a kind, people. Something cannot be “very unique.”
Marisa
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 12:37 pm:
Kati, you crack me up! I’m guilty as charged, I say “it was very unique” all the time. I stand corrected (is that grammatically correct?) and promise never to say it or write it again.
Brandy W
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 12:46 pm:
I would love to have a Vette. I would even consider selling husband just to get one.
It seems everyone has answered but I’ll put it down as well…Gerund.
Paige
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 12:49 pm:
Grammar Nazi, LOL, I’m standing in the corner hanging my head in shame. I’m with the group that has a big problem being grammatically correct. So you won’t be surprised to learn that I had to look up the meaning of the word Gerund.
DarleneW
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 12:55 pm:
I found RNTV a few days ago and keep coming back, noticed this cover on FB when I was surfing friends of mutual friends…. so I am glad I recognized you here. Sadly I have ADHD and Dyslexic typing fingers. I am very intamiate with the backspace button. I enjoyed your answers but what does a recovering lawyer mean? Hope to pop back later for a possible answer.
DarleneW
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 1:04 pm:
Ok read the exerpt, my first guess is Gerund and it is a guess, so here are the others just incase… Ilexa, Thane, Malkia, Tafari and Rhys. LOL like to be perpared. Sorry don’t know a thing about grammer… thank the lord for spell/grammer check on the word processor.
Dana Marie Bell
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 1:07 pm:
May I say, I’m loving this series? I have both books, so I’m not entering the contest, but if you like sci-fi romance you’ll love this series.
I think it would have been fun to be on that scuba diving expedition. Then again, it probably would have been horrifying, too. I can’t exactly see pushing my body int a wet suit. It would be like trying to shove a meatball into a sausage casing sans nifty meat grinder sausage making machine. Not a pretty sight.
As for the grammar problems, I just want to say I have a wonderful editor who hasn’t once threatened to smack me on the head next time she sees me for all the silly comma mistakes I tend to make. *waves at Angie*
And the ‘vette? I’m going to duck here. I’m a Mustang Cobra girl. Or maybe the Porsche Spyder (man that car’s hot). *grins*
Natasha A.
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 1:30 pm:
Grammar. My nemesis. And with the advent of Twitter and other such tools that force you to use abbreviations and such, I am very quickly loosing my ability to create a full sentence.
I would love to learn to Scuba dive. But, that probably won’t happen…well maybe. See Hubby doesn’t know how to swim, and if I were to learn how to scuba, it would probably be while we are on vacation. Hmmm..I guess I will have to find him something to do while I go out.
As for your question, with the power of Google, I have discovered that Gerund is a grammatical term.
Karen
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 1:44 pm:
answer: Gerund
That underwater archaeology stuff sounds interesting. I do love visiting the different museums devoted to underwater exploration and preservation. Your comments on the geeky archaeologists are so funny and so true. I personally don’t know about underwater archaeologists, but I know it’s true for land archaeologists. I’m sure the geek factor translates universally in that field.
cyclops8
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 1:59 pm:
Hi Liz,
Are you a fan of Grammar Girl?
Answer: Gerund
Liz Craven
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 2:11 pm:
I have to hang my head in shame. My critique partner, a lovely woman who allows me to rip her grammar to shreds, has delighted in pointing out that I said “do I realized” in my blog. (I did say I’m terrible at spotting my own mistakes, right?) And yes, Wendy, I owe you a drink!
Marisa, I wish I had an exciting story to tell about writing SciFi romance, but alas, I have never seen a UFO (or vampire or werewolf). I have always loved SciFi, and I’m not even sure what about it draws me. I’m afraid my passion for the genre can only be fully understood by a select few – most of which are the socially inept who live in their parents basement and are currently crafting their Klingon costume for the next Star Trek Convention. (As for my having attended a Star Trek Convention, I’ll plead the fifth)
Liz Craven
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 2:14 pm:
Cyclops8,
I’m not familar with Grammar Girl – unless she’s the YouTube woman who wants to revamp grammar. I suppose that would make her my arch nemesis . . .
Deidre Knight
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 2:27 pm:
I have tears in my eyes over “pubic school.” And, wow! Talk about a gorgeous cover!!
Liz Craven
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 2:37 pm:
LOL! Darlene, a recovering lawyer is a lawyer who hates practicing law and actually stops rather than continuing to suffer in a field he/she hates. (I have three friends that like practicing law and many others who are miserable – I figure life is too short!)
Liz Craven
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 3:25 pm:
Dierdre – if you think “pubic school” was bad, you should have seen the ad a local grocer ran for “frozen children parts” instead of “frozen chicken parts.”
Sandie
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 4:21 pm:
Liz, I loved your 3 things. A while ago I answered the question of why I can’t see my own grammar/typos. It’s because I know what I meant and I suspect the brain automatically adjusts. It would be similar to the email going around with the letters in words mixed up and you can still read it because the brain adjusts if the first and last letters are in place.
Liz you latest book looks great, so I now have the first one so I can read them in order, hopefully soon!
Sandie
Buffie
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 4:29 pm:
Welcome Liz!! As a paralegal who spends her days surrounded by male attorneys who always have me shaking me head, I applaud your efforts in obtaining additional degrees!!! Your underwater work sounds very intriguing. Have you used any of that experience in a book or are you planning to do so?
Liz Craven
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 4:36 pm:
Buffie -
I do indeed intend to use my underwater experience in a book. In fact, I’m going to set the book here on my charming island of St. Croix. I’m hoping to write it after I finish Escaped (third in the series).
Sandie – thanks for the information. I didn’t know that, but it makes sense!
Liz
Buffie
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 4:39 pm:
Liz, I forgot to mention that I loved that fact that you did the Snoopy dance when you found out you would be here on RNTV. It made me smile. We all just love this site!
Karin
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 5:03 pm:
You know, Liz, I’m of the same mind as you. If I don’t leave school, I don’t have to grow up, which explains why I’m working on my second Master’s degree and my ‘real’ job is at a local university.
I’m also like you in being a bit of a grammar nazi. I’ve had more than one family member complain about me correcting them, and I absolutely delight in editing other people’s papers with my lovely red pen and asking them what exactly they’re trying to say. Headlines like those you pointed out are the reason why I usually don’t pay any attention to the newspaper except to break the Ciphers/Cryptograms that are in there.
And, to answer the question about which character has the same name as a grammatical term is Gerund.
Sandie
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 6:24 pm:
I just realized that you had a contest question too Liz and i missed it earlier.
The character is Gerund. The definition of the word is: a noun formed from a verb. It usually has ‘ing’ added to change it.
Sandie
Wendy
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 6:43 pm:
I’ll be waiting for that drink!
Ah, my one time I got you. Just don’t ask me to buy you drinks for every grammer mistake I’ve made. I don’t think there’s enough rum in the entire world for that.
Talk to you soon,
Wendy
Amanda
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 7:29 pm:
Oh, man. I’m jealous of your old ride, Liz. My first car was a cherry red 63 Mustang.
Amanda
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 8:02 pm:
oops. Sorry that was supposed to be 66, not 63.
Liz Craven
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 8:27 pm:
Buffie – I love RNTV. I heard about it through an interview with Gena Showalter and have been a lurker ever since. I can’t get over how nice everyone is. If it could go wrong in relation to this guest blog, it did. Maria and Marisa have gone out of their way to help me out – and haven’t once issued a death threat!
Fedora
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 8:39 pm:
LOL, I love grammar nazis, Liz! Hooray! Do you travel with your own red pens?
I don’t any more, but when I worked as an editor, I had my own collection of colored pens that I had to stick my name on (otherwise they had a way of mysteriously walking away).
Anyway, Gerund shares a name with a grammatical term–very creative!
Marisa
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 8:40 pm:
Ah, Liz, you say the nicest things, thanks. We do have really great people here at RNTV.
Liz Craven
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 8:55 pm:
Fedora, I’m partial to pencil. I have teeny tiny handwriting and mechanical pencils make it easier for me to write. If I can’t use a pencil, I like blue ink. Red ink and tiny handwriting are a sure-fire combination for a headache. =)
Liz Craven
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 8:59 pm:
Marisa – I can’t believe you haven’t hired a hitman take me out! I swear the internet gods are out to get me. And more amazing, you have been so kind. I’d have throttled me by now! (Thanks for everything!!!)
Liz Craven
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 9:50 pm:
I’m delighted to announce the winner of the free copy of Immersed. (For the record, don’t try using a soft, female-cut baseball cap to conduct a random drawing. It doesn’t work very well.) The name, literally pulled from the hat, is Sandie. Congratulations, Sandie! Please send your preferred email address to alphamail@romancenovel.tv. They will send all the winners to Angie on Friday. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read the excerpt!
Amy S.
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 10:12 pm:
Gerund
Marisa
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 10:48 pm:
Congratulations Sandie!
Liz, thanks so much for spending time with us today, I really enjoyed your visit. And thanks to all the readers who joined us today.
dd03
on Feb 4th, 2009
@ 11:36 pm:
I also seem to be a perpetual student…although, I don’t seem to end up with degrees! O.o
I just tend to take classes here and there. I’ve been fighting going back to get my BS in Nursing…but, meh.
Answer: Gerund
pambook
on Feb 5th, 2009
@ 12:35 pm:
Congrats, Sandie!
Liz, I’m a recovering paralegal, I sure do understand, lol. Shame you had to give up your ‘Vette. I enjoy futuristics a lot, so on my list you go. Thanks for visiting.
Sandie
on Feb 5th, 2009
@ 1:56 pm:
WOW! Thanks so much Liz! I am really looking forward to reading that.
Sandie
Karin
on Feb 5th, 2009
@ 2:31 pm:
Congratulations, Sandie!
Liz Craven
on Feb 5th, 2009
@ 8:52 pm:
Pambook – We should form a support group! LOL!
Sandie – Congrats!
DD03 – I’m feeling the same way about my current degree, wondering if I’ll ever get it finished!