Chaos of this time of the Year

My brain is a mess of unorganized thoughts, problems, and issues.  I have been trying to come up with a decent blog for several days now and I have nothing.  So today, you get the chaos that is my mind.

1. Editing manuscripts.  I have two completed first drafts of novels on my desk that need my attention.  I spent last week working for one hour each night on the edit.  I don’t feel accomplished.  I don’t know why I hate editing so much.  I love the writing of a book.  The edit…is absolute torture.  I will get on it fellow readers.  I will.  I have some down time coming up and I will work hard to get at least one manuscript off my desk before January 1.  That’s my goal.  Will I reach it?  Not sure.

2. Wrapping Presents.  Why is wrapping such a time sucking chore?  Plus, why is it only my job?  I have wrapped approximately ¼ of the gifts.  I can’t bring myself to sit down and do the rest.  Maybe that’s why I was able to edit last week.  I was procrastination the wrapping.

3. Cookies.  My gma makes me cookies every year for Christmas.  The best cookies ever.  The problem is, that I tend to eat them all.  I had four for breakfast!  This is a problem, esp. since with my busy life at the moment I don’t have time to get to my zumba class.  All those cookies are sitting in my gut procreating fat cells as we speak. 

4. Social events.  I am dreading them.  They always sound like a good time until the time comes to actually attend.  Then I get ill at the thought of going.  I have so many that I have been invited to and I’m having a hard time getting together my strength and will.  Can I just attend by phone?  Do people really need to see me?  I’ll ship all the gifts and foods I have for all the events.  The funny thing is that most people wouldn’t even miss me.  I sit in a side chair and don’t talk a whole lot. Why must I attend?  Maybe this is why I have a cookie addiction.  I’m eating my anxiety of the events to come. 

5. Birds and Squirrels and Foxes oh my.  One nice relaxing pastime lately is that I have the bird and squirrel feeders up. They are coming in droves to feast at my new house.  I am very happy about this.  Esp. as the birds include blue birds (not the blue jays) and red headed woodpeckers.  I find myself sitting in that window for quite a bit of time in the mornings, simply gearing up for the day.  It’s nice.  Haven’t seen the red fox lately.  I think he comes through around dusk and as I’m not getting home now until dark, I’m missing his race through the yard.  The days will start to get lighter earlier so maybe I will see him again soon.

That’s it for me this week.  Hopefully my brain will settle down in the next week or so and I will have something interesting to discuss.  For now, this is all you get.  Have a great week everyone.

ctny

It's the Most Wonderful Time...

18’ish days give or a take a day depending on when you are reading this, until Christmas.  I love Christmas, well that’s not entirely true.  I love parts of Christmas.  There are plenty of things about it, I hate with a purple passion, but today, it’s all about the good things I enjoy.  

I enjoy the excitement of trying to find good gifts for the people on my list that I love the most.  Kids are pretty easy. Adults are harder, but let’s face it Ladies, men are hard to buy for you.  You can only get so many screwdriver sets, or handsaws, before you get tired of that idea.  Then you hit the sports wear and outdoor tools, and it’s not as much fun anymore to find gifts for them.  I start looking around August for my husband.  Why? He’s hard.  I mean almost impossible, but sometimes, every once in a while I get an awesome gift for him.  Not all the time, in fact sometimes I bomb it.  For instance, last year, I thought I had the PERFECT gift.  It was an art piece, “bust” type thing.  It arrived on time, (added plus) and I opened it and…it was like 2 inches tall.  I was so upset as that was supposed to be his main gift and it sucked.  I was heartbroken.  He loved it.  Or at least he insisted he did.  This year, I may have sucked again, as I ordered way in advance, but forgot about my address changing and forgetting to update it on my payforit account, and…well we will see if it comes on time.  Darn it all.  But even with all that, it’s very fun to find something you know, just know someone will love.  So the hunt, that’s part of the holiday I like.

I also love all the food.  I mean, turkey dinner and leftovers and homemade noodles, and pie and cookies and pie!  I have to work really hard for the next three months to get rid of all that pie on my hips, but man is it worth it. 

Christmas morning with the children.  That is such a wonderful moment.  I love the excitement and the tearing and ripping of paper and the ooh and ahhs and the wow!  I love the light in the eyes of everyone.  I could sit back and watch that all day and not even think about opening one gift of my own.  I love children at Christmas.  I just do.  I wish I could bottle that feeling for the dark winter months when I get lost in the cold. 

What do you love about the Christmas?

Ctny

The Dreaded Black Friday

Welcome to the Holiday Season.  Yes, now that we are passed Thanksgiving, it is officially, the season. 

Black Friday Shopping.  We all know those words.  I have never taken part of the black Friday madness, mainly because I have watched year after year of the absolute insanity that happens.  The news stories of the people crushing others to the ground in order to get the big screen tv or the veggie steamer at a low and obscene price!  Well, those news stories were always enough to keep my butt at home. 

The other side is I always felt very sorry for the people that had to work on that day.  Didn’t they want to spend time with their family?  Maybe they needed the sleep?  Maybe they just wanted a day off like the rest of us.  Maybe maybe maybe.

But then, this year two things happened. 

One, I spoke to several people in the consumer area that were going to be working on that dreaded Black Friday.  I was trying to tell them that I felt bad for them.  Give some support, you know?  Well, let me tell you that I was put right into my place and told to stop it!  Why you may ask?  Shock of shockers, they were excited to work on Black Friday, aside from the fact that it was fun in some regards, they also were getting triple pay!  Yes, you heard that correctly.  Triple pay for the night of madness.  They were not sad at all about having to work and in fact requested to.  Color me shocked and surprised and well, shocked.  With the holiday season here and all the upcoming expenses they would be making they were quite happy to be working and getting that bonus of a pay this time of year.  From now on, I will keep my big trap shut about all the poor people that have to work on Black Friday.  I have been schooled and will now just smile and wish them a Merry Christmas.  No, I am sure there is that one person that doesn’t want to work and doesn’t give a rat’s patooty about the extra holiday pay, but again, I have been advised that most think otherwise. 

And, two, I have a teen girl that asked me oh so sweetly if I would take her out Black Friday Shopping.  She has never asked me to go before and in fact, besides dance shoes and leos, doesn’t really ask me for anything at all.  So I contemplated how I felt about that.  I didn’t want to.  I didn’t.  She is too sweet though and I didn’t want to say no, just because I don’t do well in crowds or with strangers, or with people in general, so I said yes, but we would go around 4 a.m. and that we would go to the mall and not Walmart where a lot of the horror videos have been in the past.  She was thrilled and excited.  I was doomed and dreading.  4 a.m. Black Friday dawned dark and cool, with a bit of fog in the air to add to my gloom.  We left the house and headed over to the mall without much traffic.  We passed by the Cabela’s and saw to my dismay a HUGE line wrapped around the building all the way to the back.  We weren’t going there though so I tried not to dwell on it.  I entered the mall parking and saw…it was mostly empty.  WTH?  We got a prime parking spot right up front.  The morning was looking up just a little thanks to that spot.  We entered the mall through the food court, and saw…hardly anyone.  I looked at my tiny dancer and she at me and we smiled.  We walked through the food area and into the main shopping section and again, it was clear and hardly anyone was there.  There were people, but not many at all.  The night er…morning was looking up. We hit every store that was opened.  We browsed and laughed and enjoyed the morning without any people in our way.  We passed several teens sleeping it off in the main walk area, both on the floor and on the couches.  We saw several lines forming before a few stores that were not quite opened yet.  They were set for 6 a.m. apparently, but that was only a line of like 5 groups.  No big deal at all.  Everyone was cheery and nice and the working people were smiling and helpful.  We had a cinnabon, and we got most of our Christmas shopping done.  It was fun.  I wish shopping at the mall was like that all the time.  I might actually like to go. 

So what did I learn this weekend?  Black Friday shopping isn’t bad at all.  Will I go out next year?  Probably, but again no Walmart and no electronic places and now I also know not to hit the Cabela’s either based on that line we saw.

Did you partake of the Friday?  What do you think?  Do you love it?  Do you hate it? 

Welcome to the consumerism of the holidays.  Be safe out there everyone. 

New Release! The Full Moon Rises

It’s Release Week!  That means this is a short blog.  Here is what you need to know.

My latest book, The Full Moon Rises is out!  

 This is book 2 in the:  A Howl in the Night series.  

So what’s it about? 

Life as a shape shifter is not as easy as it would seem, especially not for Abigail Staton. Being a teenager and a shape shifter is even harder, not to mention being one of the last remaining females in the two competing wolf clans and the only girl in her new schools. Striving to find where she belongs, gets sidelined when an old threat to the wolves resurfaces. The clans are forced to come together in a semi-truce, and the already dominant males become even more controlling in trying to protect their own as well as their secret. Abby finds herself in the middle yet again, but this time, she will need both clans in order to survive.

Where can you get it?

Amazon Link

Rogue Phoenix Press Link

It is currently on sale at only $.99.  This price wont last for long, so get it now, while you can at this price.  

~*~ 

Here is book one in case you need it or want it.  A Howl in the Night.

  

What’s it about?

Sweet Sixteen is supposed to be a turning point in your life. The world is before you in all its glory, just waiting for you to reach out and grab it. Right? For Abigail Staton no, not so much. Not only does she suddenly lose her best friend due to a fight, but suddenly her mother expects her to believe that the father, she has never met, is actually a werewolf. With that revelation, Abby is thrust into the world of two wolf clans who are not only fighting each other, but also fighting for Abby, one of the few females born to the shape-shifters. Her father is determined to pair Abby up with Derek, a very dominant and overwhelming shifter. Abby vehemently balks at this union to disastrous results. When war is declared between the two clans, Abby has to decide what side she is actually on.

Where can you get book 1?

Amazon Link - Howl in the Night

Rogue Phoenix Press - Howl in the Night

That’s it, guys, short and sweet for this week.  It’s the holidays, do you like to read YA, or do you know someone who does?  Now’s the perfect time to get these two great reads at a great price. 

Just a random blog day

I don’t dance.  I know a lot of you know that my tiny dancer, however, does.  A lot…  It’s not that I don’t like dance, I simply can’t.  I have two left feet, and gravity hates me.  I do have a few memories as a kid of dance class that have been on my mind lately.  Don't know why, but nonetheless, they are there.  

Dance class was at the community center.  I don’t know much more about it other than that’s where it was.  Did it cost money?  No idea.  How many times a week was it?  Again, no idea.  What I do know is that it was held in an old building converted into the community center.  The room that held the class seems HUGE to my little form.  It had wooden floors, like you would find in a house.  Not a “dance” floor with special flooring, just hard wood. There is a smell every now and then that I catch when I go into old buildings that tickles forward my dance memories.  It’s old and dusty and something else, maybe dead mouse for all I know, but once in a while, I catch a whiff and I am transported back.  It’s not much of a memory.  But what I see is always the same. 

The windows in that old room were big, with individual square panes.  The window frames were large in that I could sit up in them in the sunshine that always seemed to be trickling through.  I loved to sit in those windows.  The dust in the air highlighted by the sunshine flowing through the air.  The warmth of that yellow light against my skin is still to this day one of my fondest memories.  I could pretend I was someone special sitting up in those windows, getting ready for class. 

There isn’t much more to my memories.  My sister took class with me.  I liked the song “Magic” but not the one by Olivia Newton John, the “other one” which the teacher didn’t have.  I don’t know if I had dance shoes or if we just danced in what we had or in nothing at all.  It really is only those windows that have stuck with me through the many many years since. 

Sometimes when I am writing a seen in an old building, that is the memory I pull from.  I wonder if that room is as big and grand as I remember it in my little girl brain.   If it’s not, then I don’t want to know.  I like seeing myself in that big window, the sun on my head, shining down through my hair as I wait for class to begin. 

FYI the “Magic” Song, is:  You Can Do Magic, by America.  I still love that song. 

Just a reminder, The Full Moon Rises releases in…less than a week!!!!!  Aren’t you excited?

Welcome to November

It’s November.  Yuck.  I know there are people that love the autumn.  The colors of it; the cooler temperatures; the idea of bonfires and pumpkins.  I am NOT that person.  I get into fall and the moment the first leaves begin to fall from the trees I get so sad.  I dread the coming winter and all that it brings.  I already miss the hot summer sun and all the green and colors of the summer.  That’s the season I love.  The sweating and the hot skin.  The so bright sun on your face that you have to close your eyes.  The warm breezes in the night, when you are chasing lightning bugs.  Ah yes, I am a summer baby.  Give me the heat! 

Why do I live in the Midwest then?  Why am I not south where it’s warmer?  Because all my family is here.  I can’t just up and leave them.  There are days it sounds lovely, but I can’t do it.  Not yet anyway.  Maybe a few more harsh winters and I may change my mind!

What about the holidays?  Aren’t I excited about those?  Well, maybe a little, but that doesn’t take away the every day living of cold and grey and wet.  We do have a fireplace this year that I may even be tempted to use, so maybe that will take away some of the loathing of the next several months. 

Now, even with the dread of the approaching season, I have a bit of exciting to mix within.  The release of The Full Moon Rises is quickly approaching (November 15, 2015). It’s less than two weeks and counting!  I have already been getting requests for books.  I want to put in my order this week people, so if you want an autographed copy, let me know ASAP. 

Have a great week!  Enjoy the sunshine while you can.  

Cover Reveal - The Full Moon Rises

Happy Cover Reveal Monday!

Here it is!  What I know a lot of you have been waiting for.  Book 2, in the A Howl in the Night series:  THE FULL MOON RISES. 

Isn’t it lovely?  It’s coming up for release November 15, 2015.  Are you ready for it? 

~*~

Book 1, A Howl in the Night, is one of my best selling books.  It’s paranormal, it’s teen romance, and it’s got a kick butt girl and a great story line, with wolves.  Did you miss book one?  Here is a short blurb, just in case you need it.

Sweet Sixteen is supposed to be a turning point in your life. The world is before you in all its glory, just waiting for you to reach out and grab it. Right? For Abigail Staton no, not so much. Not only does she suddenly lose her best friend due to a fight, but suddenly her mother expects her to believe that the father, she has never met, is actually a werewolf. With that revelation, Abby is thrust into the world of two wolf clans who are not only fighting each other, but also fighting for Abby, one of the few females born to the shape-shifters. Her father is determined to pair Abby up with Derek, a very dominant and overwhelming shifter. Abby vehemently balks at this union to disastrous results. When war is declared between the two clans, Abby has to decide what side she is actually on.

A Howl in the Night - Amazon

~*~

That brings us to Book 2, The Full Moon Rises. This book begins where we left off in the first book. 

Life as a shape shifter is not as easy as it would seem, especially not for Abigail Staton.  Being a teenager and a shape shifter is even harder, not to mention being one of the last remaining females in the two competing wolf clans and the only girl in her new schools. 

Striving to find where she belongs gets sidelined when an old threat to the wolves resurfaces.  The clans are forced to come together in a semi-truce, and the already dominant males become even more controlling in trying to protect their own as well as their secret.

Abby finds herself in the middle yet again, but this time, she will need both clans in order to survive.

~*~

Do you need a gift for the teen or the paranormal reader in your life for Christmas?  Here’s your chance.  Readers love books for Christmas.  True story. 

You will be able to get the e-book version on the 15^th, however, for those of you that like in your hand books, I will be getting print copies of The Full Moon Rises, as soon as I can and will be offering up signed copies.  If you would like a signed print copy directly from me, send me a message, email, or let me know in the comments and I will contact you with pricing and shipping information. 

Have a great week!  

Finding my Way

Hello!  I survived my move (barely) and I am trying to get back into the swing of things.  I genuinely don’t remember moving being as stressful and worrisome as this one was.  And I should know as I have moved plenty of times. 

Here is the gist of my last few months:

We spent the spring and part of the summer getting the house ready to put on the market.  Then at the very end of July, we listed.  For the next nine days, we were pretty much put out of our house as we had no less than 2 showings a day and sometimes as many as 5 or more.  Weekends?  Lord, we were spending hours twiddling our thumbs at the mall or the park or wherever we could find as we would have showings from 10 in the morning until 7:30 at night.  Then after nine days…we had two contracts in hand; a primary and a secondary.  From then until October 9^th, we were in inspections and remedies and appraisals hell. 

Since we had our contracts, we went on the hunt for a new house.  We spent one Sunday for several hours out looking about at different areas and different floor plans.  We found a beautiful home and put in our offer the next day, which was accepted.  We were set to go and began packing. 

Our first buyers for personal reasons, had to walk away from the contract at the beginning of September.  I started to sweat at this point.  Then our Secondary buyers had issues with their bank.  I thought we were going to have to put the house back onto the “active” market again and go back to showing, which I so did not want to do, but then, the clouds parted, the sun shone down and finally, we were able to close on both our old house, and our new house.  Not quite when we expected, but only a short delay in the long run. 

Which thank you God! As our house was pretty much in boxes at that point and I was running out of clothes…  We had four days to get out of the old and into the new, but we did it in two.  My house is now a sea of boxes, but we are slowly getting through the mess.  My office…is a complete tip…see?

But, I was able to get started unpacking and see there?  My computer, sitting nice and pretty among the mess of my desk.  Which means, I am back in business.  Slow, but at least back. 

And that brings us to the questions of, what will I be working on next?  Nano?  A New YA book?  Something different?  When will my next book be out? 

Come back next week, and I will show you.  It will be a Cover Reveal for my next release coming out November 15, 2015.  Make a note to stop by and let me know what you think.

I'm not lost. I swear.

So, if I'm not lost, where have I been?  I know many of you have been asking.  Here is your answer:

We decided to move.  So, what that means to the blog world, is that my office has been packed up and put into boxes, and my computer and all the stuff that goes with it has been dismantled as well.  It’s a bit hard to blog without my office and writer’s paraphernalia. 

This unintentional hiatus should come to an end mid October, thanks to a quick, almost way to quick sale and purchase of a new home.  In the meantime, I will strive to check in, but I have one day each week wherein I get a actual lunch, so I’m not promising. 

However, while I have a moment to say hello, I thought I’d let you know what’s new on the writing front, well aside from moving. 

1. I have written a short zombie story that will be published in the near future.  There will be details and more to come on that as soon as I can. 

2. I had such fun writing my zombie short, that I have come up with an idea for a novella type idea that I will begin working on…as soon as I can.  I did jot up an outline and have it well begun and meshed out.  The actual writing will be a bit difficult sans computer, but I will do what I can. 

3. The Full Moon Rises (Book 2 in the Howl in the Night series) is in full publication swing.  I have received the final version of the book cover that I will be doing a reveal on in October.  I will be taking orders for autographed books in the near future.  Most likely along with the cover reveal. 

There you have it, for the time being.  I’ll be back as soon as I can.  Take care and say hello.  Let me know what’s new in your neck of the world. 

ctny

Rebecca Besser - My Zombie Series

This week I'd like to welcome author, Rebecca Besser to my blog.

My Zombie Series

By Rebecca Besser

When most people hear the word zombie when relating to books or movies, they automatically get mental images of hordes of puss bags with their claw-tipped hands outstretched toward their desired meal. The reason this happens is because that’s the norm for zombies. I, personally, have read book after book and have seen movie after movie with scenes where zombies attack people en masse.

Even though I have written stories with those scenes myself, I hate seeing it so often. I hate getting excited about a book and then when I start reading it, I realize the plot is the same old thing that I’ve read many times previous.

When I wrote Undead Drive-Thu I wanted to give zombie readers something fresh, new, and different. I didn’t want it to be the norm. I wanted readers to pick up the book because they loved zombies and get excited about something unique that still involved the monster they love.

I put only one zombie in the story – a zombie with no explanation. No, I don’t tell you where it happened or why (that’s in the sequel – Undead Regeneration – and the soon to be written prequel – Undead Origins).

The wife of the zombie refuses to see that her husband is so changed that he’s not human anymore. She vows to keep the…er, zombie alive because she loves him.

Then I add in a bunch of characters that are just going about normal life in a modern day setting.

No, there’s no apocalypse. There’s just one brain-loving zombie in a world of people. What could go wrong?

Everything can go wrong, and I make sure everything does go wrong.

The survivors of Undead Drive-Thru go on living their lives in Undead Regeneration.

After the nightmare they lived through in Undead Drive-Thru, they have issues that need to be dealt with. So, what do they do? They decide to go undercover at the bio-engineering company believed to be the reason for the zombie from Undead Drive-Thru – ReGen.

Yes, there is more than one zombie in Undead Regeneration, but there’s still not the cliché horde cornering screaming pedestrians to rip them apart.

As always, with knowledge comes danger. And the characters face a lot of danger as they struggle to handle life, love, and chasing their dream of a future. They just want to remain human and be happy. Is that so wrong?

The problem is that they might not be able to do so. Things happen that could end everything…and the things that happen involve a zombie and a mad scientist!

I hope you’ll give my zombies a chance.

They’re waiting to tear into your brains through the pages of my books!

~*~

Looking to buy?  Want more information?  Here are a few links for you:

Undead Drive-Thru - Kindle

Undead Drive - Thru - Amazon

Undead Drive-Thru - Barnes and Noble

Undead Regeneration - Kindle 

(Undead Regeneration will be available in paperback in August 2015.)

~*~

Rebecca Besser resides in Ohio with her wonderful husband and amazing son. They've come to accept her quirks as normal while she writes anything and everything that makes her inner demons squeal with delight. She's best known for her work in adult horror, but has been published in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for a variety of age groups and genres.

Find out more about her: www.rebeccabesser.com – http://rebeccabesser.wordpress.com – @BeccaBesser

Undead Regeneration Review

This week I am sharing a review of the book:  Undead Regeneration, by Rebecca Besser.  I am a Follower of author, Rebecca Besser, so  when I found out she was publishing a new book, I jumped on the read.  

Undead Reneration - Amazon

My Review:

Undead Regeneration, did not disappoint.  I love a good zombie story.  It’s even better when there is an actual story involved and not just the eating of people and the obvious gore a zombie story inherently is.  This book gives you everything and in spades.  It has a thrilling story plot with meshed out characters, and also a bit of zombie munching to go along with it.  Regeneration brings your right back into the life of Ky, who we saw and who survived in Undead Drive-thru.  She hasn’t been able to move forward with her life due to the nightmare she lived through thanks to the ReGen Company and it’s human experimentation.  She is tired of playing the victim in her own life and decides to go after ReGen with a little help and a bit of persuasion from the FBI.  Even a good plan never seems to go as planned and that brings on the zombies and the terror and the gore.  It was fantastic.  The author has a way of winding you into her characters lives and emotions.  She brings life to the story, without the huge info dump on the reader, which I hate when authors do that. Yet, she is still able to bring you the guts of the story with color and imagination.  If you are a zombie story fan, then you have to read this book.  I recommend it, highly.  

Stay tuned next week, as I will be having Rebecca Besser on my blog.  Make sure to stop over to see what she has to say. '

If you would like to see what other books are available from Ms. Besser, you can check her out HERE

 

Encouraging Thunder Award

I am honored today because a fellow author has awarded me with the Encouraging Thunder award!

What you can do with Encouraging Thunder award?
– Post it on your blog   - Check!
– Grant other bloggers with the award  - Pass

What you can’t do with Encouraging Thunder award?
– Abuse or misuse the logo    - Check!
– Claim that it’s your own handmade logo     - Check!

What you should do after receiving Encouraging Thunder award:
– Enjoy the award     - Check check!
– Thank via comments or mention the blogger who gave you the award  - Check!

That’s it. No questions to answer or cumbersome rules to follow. It’s acknowledgment to those blogger friends who have stuck behind you through good times and bad, whether through comments, social media, email, etc.

~*~

Thank you so much, Allyn for thinking of me for this award.  I am going to enjoy my award and brandish it proudly.  Thank you for always giving me encouragement as well as listening to me during my moments of struggle.

Be sure to check out her blog for more information on her current publications and books.

~*~

One more thing before I go this week.  Did I finish my first draft of my current WIP?  Why, yes!  Yes, I did. Stay tuned fans and readers, I will have a exciting new book and story for you soon, I hope.

Summer is here...sorta

Summer is in full swing and it’s cold as heck.  I mean so cold I thought about actually turning on the heat this morning.  I didn’t, but only as it seemed wrong to turn on the heat on June 1^st.  Instead, I put on extra clothes and turned on the little space heater in the entry way, to break the chill in the air.  What the heck?  Where’s the sweltering heat? 

So? Did I finish the first draft of my current WIP?  Nope.  But there is a good reason.  As I progressed through the book, it was turning more and more into a series book.  I didn’t want that.  I want a full stand-alone story.  Why?  I don’t know, I just do.  If a publisher later on wants a book two, it could be a branch out book with new characters added in with their own story.  But I wanted Grace’s story to finish, to have an actually happy ending.  What that means though is, it appears this book is going to be a bit longer than I first anticipated as it reaches an actual end.  However, it’s coming along very nicely.  I hit the 60,000 mark last week and I am pressing forward.

This week is the end of the dance “school” year.  We have our end of the year recital, which means I will be in dance hell for the week.  Costumes and makeup and hair, dress rehearsals, and so many shows, it’s going to be insane.  I am praying for patience.  But, then I get a break, a short one-week one, but a break all the same.  Plus it’s fun to see how everyone ended up for the year.  What they learned and how they progressed.  The children look forward to it and that’s the whole point after all.  

I am still looking for at least one review of A Howl in the Night. Did you read it?  Did you review it on Amazon?  If you didn’t know, the one good way to help out an author is to write a review. Just sayin.

Here's a link to help you out:  A Howl in the Night

Summer Schedule

It’s spring and almost summer!  This is my absolute favorite time of year.  I get refreshed, I feel inspired, and I lose the funk that I tend to hold onto from the first frost all the way until the first spring flowers begin to bloom. 

What that also means is that I get busy.  Busy outside in the garden and the yard.  Busy cleaning and clearing out the house from the winter.  Busy planting flowers and putting down mulch.  Most of all, I get busy writing.  I have been cranking out words by the thousands lately on my current manuscript.  What’s it about? I don’t want to say.  It’s a bit of a surprise.  However, what I can say is, the first draft is almost done all ready.  If I work on it this week as I have the last few, I may have it done this week.  I may not, but it is possible.  As I said above, I am feeling inspired.  Thank you sunshine!

I am also full swing within dance season for the tiny dancer.  Her hip is still an issue and causes her pain and frustration, but she is learning to deal with it and press on.  Some days are fine, some not so much.  I guess that is what determination is.  It’s awesome and frightening to see up close and person how very determined she is.  Only a few more weeks of the chaos of dance, then we get a decent break (like 6 whole weeks!!!!), before it all starts over in August.  One good thing about the crazy dance season is that I have a lot of time just sitting around, which I am filling with good books to read and even time spent plucking away at my WIP in some form or another.  I’m having fun.  Yes, its nuts and crazy and time consuming, add in a touch of drama and tears, a splash of hair emergencies, you just about have a picture of it.  The upcoming six weeks of break, I wont know what to do with myself. 

No, this is not a literary blog.  This is a welcome to my life blog.  It’s almost summer and I am thrilled.  I wont be blogging every week for the summer.  It will be more like every other week.  Mainly because I have a few projects that I really want to get working on and finished before the cold and rain comes back and I get dreary and sad.  I may even give agent hunting a go.  Maybe. 

Hopefully next blog I will be able to say I am done with my first draft of my new story.  I’m trying.   

May the 4th and Cinco De Mayo

Welcome to May the 4^th.  I love this day, for two reasons actually.  One as, hello!  It’s funny and I like it. I’m a Star Wars child.  Grew up with Laya and Luke.  Had the records and the books.  My sister loved Yoda and had a ton of things with him.  He kinda creeped me out, but hey, when you share a room with your sibling, you don’t get much say (The purple!  My God, all the purple!  To this day, I am not a fan of purple).  Moving on.  So, enjoy the 4^th,  just for the fun of it.

Tomorrow is Cinco De Mayo.  Why is this day awesome. Because!!!!!  It’s a feast day of Mexican goodness AND it’s also my birthday.  I get a festival on my birthday to celebrate my greatness.  Okay, so maybe not, but I can pretend.  I’m an author after all.  I have a great imagination. 

What am I doing for my grand event?  Nothing.  It’s not that I am not thrilled to have lived through another year (it was questionable a time or two).  I am not a big birthday person.  I try really hard to remember other people’s big day, I miss more than I remember, but again, I’m not big on birthdays.  Well, unless you are my Husband or my children and grandchildren, then I can’t forget you, as that’s just wrong, but the rest of my friends and family, if I remember to say anything about your special day, be grateful, as 90% I don’t.  Therefore, it’s seems a bit hypocritical to be all fanatical about my special day of birth, when I can’t remember anyone else’s. 

I wanted to post a baby photo of myself just for kicks, but apparently I don’t have one.  Sad.  I will give another hunt through later today if I can to post on my actual birthday, but as of now, I got nothing.  I’d post one of me now, but I am not a photogenic person.   Sorry about your luck. 

May the 4^th be with you and have a wonderful week. 

Back into the Mix

Hello, people of the blog.  Yes, it has been a while.  Life gets in the way and sometimes takes over. 

So what have your missed in the life of me:

1.  The tiny dancer and I got food poisoning.  It was awful.  However, if you want to find a bright spot from the whole horrid experience, then it would be that I was able to lose almost 8 whole pounds in a period of about 3 days.  Whoo hoo.  However, it didn’t stay off.  There was cherry cheesecake in the fridge, and once I was finally hungry again, I think I ate all of it.  Yeah.  Really.

2.  I have done absolutely no writing for the last two weeks.  Yes, I know, I suck.  I simply didn’t have the energy nor the brain capacity to sit down and actually try to think.  This week I am back at it.  I have a fresh beginning worked out for my current WIP and I plan on spending hopefully a good hour on it today.  Yay.  I always feel better when I feel productive.

3.  As I have not been writing, I have been reading.  I found all the maze runner books at the Half Priced Book Store.  I, of course, scarfed them up and I am on the last one.  I had read the first one about a year ago, and due to the extent of my TBR pile, it has taken me this long to get back to the series.  It’s not bad.  Sometimes the confusion of the characters makes me the reader confused and frustrated, but I have decided that is the point, even if it’s annoying.  I need to find another series after this one to pick up. 

4.  Dance season is in full swing.  My schedule is a bit on the crazy side right now.  I had this past weekend off, and the upcoming one, but then we are back into the competition on the 1^st.  It’s funny, I look forward to this time of year, but then when it’s here, I get stressed and anxious trying to make sure we are prepared and have everything and that I know where we are going and when.  It’s for the tiny dancer though and I wouldn’t change it for the world.  She looks so lovely and happy when she is dancing.  I would never take that from her. 

That’s it for me.  I’m swamped under over here, but trying to stay afloat.  Have a great week and I hope to say hello next Monday. 

ctny

Gray Time of Year

I get a bit of the blues this time of year.  I have ruminated on the why.  From what I can tell it’s because nature gives you one or two glorious days of spring, and then it blasts you with day after day after day of rain and snow and frost and cold and wind and…and…I simply get to the point where it depresses the heck out of me.  I figured I better get back on the blog wagon and give you an update as to what is going one.

1.  First and foremost, The Full Moon Rises, book 2 in the Howl in the Night Series has been slated to be published sometime around November 15, 2015.  Exciting news eh? Not too far away.  I am sure I will post an update or two closer to the release date to keep you all in the loop.

2.  My website is back up and running!  Credit given to my husband, who has realized that when it comes to technologies and website creation and all that comes with it, I suck.  He took it over for me, cleaned it up and there you have it.  You can check it out here: Website

3.  Time has been on my mind a lot lately.  In that I don’t seem to have any.  Between working full time, the tiny dancer's dance schedule, which is currently including extra practices, the fact that competition season is in full swing, holidays, and just trying to clean my house and spend time with my husband and family, I have no time at all.  So, with that being said, please do not ask me to do anything that takes any amount of time, as apparently I can’t say no to anyone.  I want to help others out.  I want to do all that I can for friends and family, but please, right now, don’t ask me, as I will say yes, when I should not. 

4.  Last, but not least, I am thinking I need an updated author photo.  Does anyone have any ideas?  Does the world like outside ones or the flat backed professional ones?  Should I be more candid or more posed?  I hate taking photos of myself.  I am not a selfie person, and I feel really fake smiling for a gadget. 

That’s all I have time for today.  Easter is on its way.  Woo Hoo.  I love Easter.  For many reasons but I will admit, mostly…it’s for the chocolate.  Have a great week and holiday for those that celebrate.  

ctny

The Sun...

The sun is out, and I am too.  I simply can not be inside today writing a blog.  So, here are a few photos I snapped today to prove how glorious the weather is:

Most of my Snow Crocus that have come up are purple.  Most as in 99.9%.  This one however obviously is not.  She's all alone in a bed of purple.  Makes her all the more lovely to see.

This one (notice the coloring of the crocus?) I am sharing as these crocus are covered in bees.  The sound and hum of them pulled me forward just so I could watch them work.

This is the only day for the next week that the sun will be out and it will be warm, so I am going to be playing hooky from my blog this week.  Hope you understand.  Better yet, I hope you are having as lovely a day as I am and don't even notice as you are outside enjoying as well.

Have a great week!  See you next.

ctny

A New Week and a New Project

It’s not spring yet, but it is getting closer every day.  The sun is shining and it’s heading up to the 50’s all week long.  Yes, it will rain, but there is also loads of sunshine mixed within the gray.  I’m so excited.  The end of winter is near.  Thank goodness, as I really don’t know that I could have taken much more.

So this week, I am starting a new story.  Or I should say finishing a new story, that I had begun and put aside for Nano in November and haven’t touched it since.  It’s new and exciting and something a little different than my usual.  I’m not even sure yet if it will have a romance element to it.  The dude that is one of the main characters is a bit of a jerk and I wouldn't date him…I can’t imagine my main girl would either.  We will see how it turns out. 

There you have it, back to the grind for me.  I maybe could have used a bit longer of a break to read and be lazy but I was kind of excited to get back at it.  I figured I better ride the creative wave while I had it in my hands.  You never know when it will pitter out and when the next wave will come.

The Full Moon Rises Update

To keep you up to date on what I am working on, I thought I’d take a moment to tell you all that my draft manuscript, The Full Moon Rises, which is Book Two in the Howl in the Night Series, is finally, sent off to my publisher as of late last week.  Will they like it?  Will they hate it?  The jury is still out, but my part for the moment is done.  Yay!

So what now?  This week I am catching up on some reading.  I have about 3 books going at the moment, which I thought I would finish up.  Then next week I will get back to writing.  Something.  No sure what at the moment, but between now and then I am sure I can come up with an idea.  

I haven’t done any small work lately; maybe I should take a few weeks and put out a few short stories to anthologies or maybe a few magazines.  I don’t know.  I will take the time I have this week to think it over.

18 days until spring.  Just saying…

Winter is never going to end…

In October everyone is excited to pull out the jackets and hoodies.  They start talking about bonfires and Halloween.  Then it’s the holiday season with turkey and a red suited fat man.  Everyone wants a white Christmas.  They complain if there isn’t snow.  They love the winter and all it brings.  The snowmen, and the ice skating, the snow ball fights and the angels.  The warm toasty fires and nights spent at home celebrating with family. 

Not me.  I hate winter.  I don’t say that lightly.  I Hate winter, which a capital H! 

I see the leaves on the trees begin to change and I get sad.  I mean actually sad, on the inside.  Then they fall to the ground in heaps and piles, which I have to rake and bag and cart away by the truck load.  The garden freezes over and the sweet potatoes are dug up.  That is the last of the fresh produce I will get for months and months.  The grass and then the windows on the car begin to frost over in the mornings, which means I will have to go out to start it early to warm up. The snow and the ice arrive with a vengeance in Ohio and it stays and stays. 

The days are dark and grey.  The nights are blustery and cold.  The wind is brutal.  It weasels its way under coats and sweaters and bites at the skin.  Eyes water and noses run and the winter is still ever present.  It’s January and the snow comes in droves of white.  Ice crusts over everything including power lines and walkways.  I have been in boots for months.  I miss my pretty peep-toe heels, my wedges and my espadrilles, even my flip-flops. Everything is dead, brown and grey. 

February has arrived and the ice has taken me as a casualty time and time again as I slip, slide, and fall my way through the days and days of winter.  My skin is itchy and dry no matter how much moisture I rub into it.  Snow comes again and again and again.  It’s pushed into piles as high as the house and some higher than that.  Salt granules find there way inside my shoes and my car and my home.  Everywhere I turn I find the sharp little crystals from hell as they stab into my cold feet and toes. 

March is almost here.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but I don’t see it yet.  I’m melancholy today with the cold and the winter that is never going to let go of us.  I need the warmth of the sun.  I miss it terribly. 

Come on spring, where are you?

Reading to my Children

I read to my babies.  I read to them, all the time.  It didn’t matter if they were two months old or ten years old.  I read to them.  I was chatting with a new mom the other day.  Her baby was the cutest little girl of about four months old.  I asked her if she was reading to her?  She told me no, that there wasn’t a point at that age as they didn’t understand.

Now, I am not, or at least I try not to be, that person that believes they know everything about everything.  I have learned a lot of thing, but I don’t believe that I know everything, or that I have learned everything.  I learn new things every single day.  However, in this instance, I decided to share what I had learned about reading to babies.   

1.  Babies may not understand the words in the beginning, but they understand the tone you are using.  They hear you.   They listen. 

2.  Babies can see.  Whether unfocused or not, they can see the colors and the shapes.  They can see the words, even if they don’t understand them.  They learn from every single moment of the day. 

3.  Reading time is a time to cuddle and bond and enjoy a quiet moment together.  It’s a chance to sit on mom or dad’s lap and soak in the warmth and the love. 

4.  This one I think is very important.  It’s one that I realized early and put to good use as soon as I could.  Reading is a moment to sit still.  It’s a moment of learning how to sit and be quiet, and be silent for a period of time.  It’s a time to listen.  This is a moment in a parent’s life where you can teach a necessary social manner to a little one, in an easy pain free way that also has an element of enjoyment.  Those children at the restaurants that are running around like wild animals, they may be entertaining for a moment, but in reality, they need to be taught how to sit and good.  Those children in church that the harassed mother has to take out of the service, because they can’t sit quietly, haven’t learned the lesson yet.  It can all start with a simple moment of reading time.  I know it sounds silly, but teaching a child how to sit still and quiet while another is talking will be invaluable to the child.  No it doesn’t start easy.  Babies don’t understand.  You aren’t going to be reading for hours on end and torturing the child to be still for that long.  But starting at a board book that takes a moment or two and progressing through to long and longer periods, will slowly and surely teach more than just reading to a child. 

So, there you have it.  I read to my babies.  As long as they would tolerate it, I would read to them.  My youngest (teenager) would probably love for me to still do it, but with her dance schedule, there simply isn’t time with the books she likes to read.  I do read most of the books that she reads in order for us to talk about them and discuss, but sadly, I don’t physically read to her anymore.  

The Big Game

Hello people of the blog.  Last week I was noticeably absent.  The tiny dancer and myself were down with the stomach flu from hell.  It would not go away.  It was like the flu only centered in the tummy area.  You’d feel a little better and talk yourself into eating something, and WHAM down you’d go again.  I really wasn’t certain we were going to make it.  We did, after about 6 days.  It really lasted last long. 

As I was so sick last week I didn’t work on anything writing’wise.  I didn’t even read.  I tried, but it was like getting motion sick trying to read.  No thanks.  So, The Full Moon Rises is not done as I really wanted it to be.  I will do my best to catch back up this week and get it finished.

So what do I have on my mind?  The big game of course!

1.  Half-Time:  I’m not a Katy Perry fan. I don’t NOT like her and there a few songs I enjoy but that’s about it.  Now, that being said, when she came out at Half Time riding that giant mechanical lion, I was stupefied.  That was the most fantastic thing I have seen in a long while. I loved it.  I want one!  Seriously, did you see it?  All in all her show was very entertaining.  I was impressed.  I wanted more Lenny, but who didn’t?  Sorry Missy Elliot, you were not exciting and did you actually even sing?  Come on now.  The stage was very cool with its effects and lights and movement.  Yes, I really enjoyed it.  I am shocked, but I did.  Katy Perry, well done. 

2.  Commercials:  As usual, some were good, some were bad, some were stupid, and some annoyed me.  The good:  The Budweiser Ponies and Puppy.  Yes, proof positive I am a girl.  I enjoyed the Dove daddy commercial, until the very last second when I realized it was for Dove Men.  I was not expecting that.  It was Hallmark’esq and then DOVE…weird.  The Viagra/Fiat commercial I felt was stupid and a bit TMI.  The Nationwide one, why?  Yes, it made a point, but why?  Do we always have to make things morbid?  I think after that commercial I stopped watching them.  It ruined it for me.  They are supposed to be fun and silly and you bring in the death of children?  Yeah, didn’t need to see that.  Someone always has to ruin the fun, thanks Nationwide.

3.  The Game:  The whole point of the night.  I tried to read and watched some of the game. Most of the game was well done.  A few bum moments.  A few bad plays.  I’m not a fan of either team, we’re a Pittsburg household, however, I was rooting for the Patriots, because I think the Seahawks are bad sportsman.  Ha!  That sounds funny considering “deflatgate”.  Regardless, I find them to be Ugly people.  I don’t mean by looks either, I mean on the inside.  Not all of them, obviously, but a good handful of them and that tends to ruin the whole team for me.  Then the very last 20 seconds of the game, the Seahawks proved my stance by swinging and throwing punches due to their own stupidity.  Served them right for loosing.  Show some class boys.  Maybe you can win one. 

Today I am working hard on re-re-re-editing Full Moon Rises.  Then I will be making changes and finishing it up to send out to beta readers.  Hopefully, I can get it submitted in the next week or so.  I’ll keep you posted. 

Have a great week! 

Snapping Hip/Sleeping Foot Update

Snapping turtle what?  - Snapping Hip Syndrome is as good as it’s going to get for my tiny dancer.  She will for the rest of her dance life, struggle and fight with the annoyance and sometimes pain of her hip issues.  She has been cleared from Physical Therapy with a list of exercises/stretches to attend to in order to help alleviate the issue, but it is still an issue.  This brings me to my question of:  What the Hell was the point of the PT then?  Why not just give her the exercises and tell her Good Luck.  Oh no.  Instead we spend $300 PER SESSION (that is after my insurance covered a whole $28) for them to tell me, that’s it.  She’s good to go. Yes, it still snaps and grinds and is an issue, but she’s done all the same.  Frustrated?  Oh ho, that is not even close to how I am feeling.  However, I’m glad we are done with the PT.  She has learned some good stretching and strengthening techniques that will be of use to her for the rest of her life.  We met several people that are having way worse issues than we are and it gave us some perspective that maybe we should be joyous in a small way even through her own pain.  Am I happy with the resolution:  No.  Am I happy to have it behind us all the same:  Yes.

Drop Foot – This is another one of those WTH things that I am at a loss as to what to do about it.  The foot is getting better, in that it is no longer asleep or tingly.  She is gaining strength in it, albeit slower than molasses on an icicle, but it is getting better.  She has gone through xrays, where they found nothing, to a movement eliminating boot.  She has gone through no dance for almost 4 weeks (of which I thought was going to kill us both).  She has gone through PT (no, just don’t ask).  She has now gone through an MRI, of which came back perfect and normal and no problems they can see in the spine or the brain stem.  So, now they want to do an EMG.  I kind of want to just say screw it all.  My dancer is going through test after test and pain after pain, and they have no idea what is going on or why.  Yet, it’s getting better, all by itself.  WTH.  I understand that it is the practice of medicine, but can they practice on someone else for a while? 

I have put off the EMG for a few weeks.  If my girl is better by the time the appointment comes up, I’m not having her go through it.  Who wants needles and electricity coursing through their legs if there is not an issue anymore?  I’m lost and don’t know what to do.  Thankfully I have about 3 weeks to wait and see what happens.

Calgon…take me away….

Sia - Elastic Heart

Have you heard of this song?  Have you seen the video?  Apparently the video is making quite the wave of hate on the Internet.  So much so that Sia has issues an apology. 

I am a fan of Sia.  I am also aware of young Maddie from Dance Moms that made a smash hit of the Chandelier song, which featured her in the video.  I watched it and loved it.  I admit it.  It’s a great video and Maddie does a great job whether you like her or not.  So when the new video came out with Shia LeBeouf and Maddie, I went out and gave it a look-see. 

It’s…strange.  It’s a bit off putting.  It’s very weird.  I didn’t hate it.  I didn’t love it. It did however get me thinking about it.  Maddie is a whole 12 years old.  Shia is 28.  There is a bit of…something…not love, not romance, or desire, but maybe…wanting.  I pushed it off as one that I wasn’t going to be in love with and moved on.  Then I saw post after post and hate after hate about the pedophilia nature of the video and I stopped and thought, wait, what did I miss. 

I have now watched it several times as I wanted to make a real, time spent opinion of it.  So what do I think?  I don’t believe that Maddie is supposed to be a girl in the video. I almost think of her as a wild animal.  Not a girl. She changes throughout and becomes less wild and more human’esq, but still that wild beast of the first part, rings true.  Is she a shifter?  Is she a beast that changes to human?  That I couldn’t say, but wild creature she is.  Shia spends the video angry at times running and shouting and swinging fists.  Then others he spends trying to tame the beast.  He is stuck within the cage (physical and metaphysical I think) and can’t get out.  Maddie is able to leave and does so, which at first infuriates Shia and then leaves him broken and sad and maybe dead or dying.  I didn’t find it pornographic or pedophilic and I am a bit of a prude.  Maybe it's an innocent/evil thing.  She is an innocent (then why the wildness???) and he is evil, a monster trying to take or hold onto it.  

Again, I have to say, it’s weird.  It’s very strange.  Not thinking it gets to the point of calling it child porn or pedophilia though.  I think it stays well within the range of artistic insanity.  I still don’t really like it.  However, Shia does an awesome job in it all the same.  It surprised the holy heck out of me.

That’s my personal take on the video.  You can have a different one.  This is mine. 

 Video - Sia - Elastic Heart Utube

Apology - RollingStone Article

Happy New Year - 2015

Welcome to the year 2015.  We made it through 2014. I am not really into resolutions anymore.  I was when I was younger but now I simply don’t have time.  Last year was a very hard year for me, although rewarding in some areas as well.   

So, what did I learn last year?  What do I want to do better this year? 

1.  One thing I would like to do better in the coming years is to take a breath more often for myself.  I spend a lot of time and energy on everyone but myself.  I will wear myself out for everyone and then have nothing left for me.  Not even half an hour for a read.  I put everyone ahead.  Even people that are not family and a few simply acquaintances, will be put ahead of myself.  I spent most of last year utterly exhausted.  I will be trying very hard to say no.  It’s not in my nature, but I am going to work on it. 

2.  I am a grandmother.  Did you know that?  I have a wonderful, full of life, one-year-old Grandson.  When I was a new mother, I would get so much un-needed and un-wanted advice from everywhere I turned.  I hated it.  I have tried very hard not to be that person, to wait until I am asked before giving my opinion.  I cannot tell you how freaking hard that is.  Watching, knowing you could help, knowing you have good information that could be utilized.  Failing miserably at not being that overbearing opinionated person.  It’s very hard on the outside to sit quietly when a baby is crying or getting into trouble or learning something the hard way or sick or whatever.  I hope even with all my failures at keeping my mouth shut that I am not THAT person I so loathed as a new mother.  I will continue to work on this.  I promise. 

3.  I always feel very energized during NANO.  Yes a little stressed and overwhelmed, but I feel good about the writing.  It’s the deadline and the schedule that I seem to thrive under.  I want to continue to feel that energy during the year.  Not just during the month of November.  I tried to keep it going during December, but the holidays crushed any imagination I may have had.  However, I am back up and running and moving forward.  For those that are interested, I finished the first draft of Howl 2, now to be known as:  The Full Moon Rises.  I have already begun my first round of edits and I plan on kicking butt throughout this month to get it done and sent off to my publisher. 

Those are the main ideas for my year.  Maybe to some they are resolutions, but to me, they are life changes that I want to make in myself forever, not just for the new year.   So with that being said, I am off to continue with my edit and hope to have draft 2 done in a few days, if I can find the time to myself.  We all know how I am with that…Happy New Year everyone!