Winter Hobbies

Like many people I have hobbies outside of writing.  These include many artistic avenues, but one I spend a lot of time on is painting.  I paint in watercolors, acrylics, and even dabble in oils.  I'm versatile like that...

I like watercolors the best, simply because they are easy to clean up.  I like oils because even if I mess up, I can just scrap the mistake off and try again.  Acrylics are also fun as I can get deep colors and they are easy to use on any type of surface.  I don't pretend to be very good.  Somethings I can paint very well.  Others...I am very lacking. However, I keep enjoying the time spent on them all the same. 

Here are a few for your winter day enjoyment:

A home in the forest, a watercolor by Courtney Rene

Ladybug, a watercolor by Courtney Rene

Turtle, a watercolor by Courtney Rene

Bluebird, a watercolor by Courtney Rene

You may begin to notice a trend...I have an affinity to animals, bugs, and nature.  

Mountain Landscape in oils by Courtney Rene

Whale, an acrylic, by Courtney Rene

Wolf, an acrylic, by Courtney Rene 

Nothing too awesome but not to shabby either.  I use painting when I'm stuck with something I'm writing or when I just can not get inspired to write.  I think that may mean that if I have not put out anything in the book or magazine world in a while...someone might need to tell me to put my paintbrush down and get to writing!  

We all need our outlets.  Painting is mine.  

Cold January

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

This January here in Ohio has been strange.  In most years, the 1st of the month hits and hits hard with winter weather.  We get blasted with snow, cold, and ice.  This type of harsh winter weather stays for weeks and weeks.  Then we get a January thaw for a day to help wash away the brown ick that has become our landscape.  We breath a sigh of relief at the break in the weather.  Only for winter to rear its giant angry head and hit us again with a gleeful vengeance.  Schools close and companies let employees work from home.  January is a hard month usually.  Misery is winter in Ohio.

This year, 2024 has not been the usual.  We had lovely 40 degree weather for most of the month so far.  That is until this week when the snow and ice has come with a vengeance of its own.  Temperatures in the negatives and windchills making it even worse.  It is only January 20th and I am dreaming of spring.  Wishing for it. 

No, granted it has not been a hard month overall.  However, this last week sure has felt hard.  Getting outside, walking in that wind is miserable.  The air physically hurts.  Less than nine weeks until spring at this point.  As we still have February to get through, it can not come fast enough for me.  Brrr.  

Welcome to Winter...

Spark - Book 3 in the Elements Series

 Spark - WIP

The new year has brought with it a new and determined spark of creativity on my end.  With that in mind, book 3 in the Elements series is firmly in the works and a concrete work in progress.  For those that don't know, this series is about four extraordinary teens, each with a corrupted gift from one of the four elements:  water, earth, wind, and fire.  These young adults come together to face a common threat...their creators.  Scientists of a genetic engineering company have been hunting for them since they were children.  Each one of these genetically modified teens have been on the run and hiding for years. Alone.  They have decided to not run anymore.  

Cold - Book One in the Elements Series

Cold - Book one in the series is Nora's story.  Water is destructive all by itself, but turn water to ice and it can become even more deadly, especially in the hands of an angry young woman out to right a wrong.

Burn - Book Two in the Elements series

Burn - Book two in the series is Ash's story.  Fire is destruction.  It burns and eats anything it comes in contract with.  It has been used as a weapon, as a means of demolition, and even as a method of death.  That does not mean it always has to be evil and used to destroy.  

Spark - Book three in the series is Eve's story.  We don't yet know what all Eve can do.  She is an earth element and with it is a creator of life.  Does that mean she is also the bringer of death?  How far can she be pushed before she becomes exactly that?  

Wind - Book four in the series is Reed's story.  Stay tuned as his story will be told and soon.  

Upcoming Events

With the new year here and roaring, that brings with it the planning of events.  This year, I have worked hard to get some big things on the schedule.  I currently have three on the calendar, but anticipate four or five.  The main ones, are exciting though.

The first big even is the Mid Ohio Indie Author Book Expo.  I have been trying to get into this event for about 3 years, but it sells out so fast.  I am so excited to finally be apart of this expo.  The event will be held on August 10, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  You can find information on location, attendees, food, parking, and more here:  Mid Ohio Indie Author Book Expo

The second big event this year is that I have registered to attend the BoucherCon 2024 - Murder and Mayhem in Music City.  I was supposed to be a part of this conference in 2021, held in New Orleans, but thanks to Covid and a hurricane, it was unfortunately cancelled.  The conference for this year is being held in Nashville on August 28-September 1, 2024.  Once I have more information on the conference as well as any panels I will be sitting on, I will update.  For more information on the BoucherCon you can find it here: BoucherCon2024

Finally, up and coming is the West Lafayette - Hop into Easter Event on Sunday, March 24, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This event will be held at the Coshocton Moose Lodge.  Fellow Author Rebecca Besser will be joining me at this event and we will have plenty of books on hand. 

Stay Tuned as this list will change as the year progresses, but for now, this is the anticipated events.  

New Year - 2024

Image by hannazasimova on Freepik

With the new year upon us, most will look back over the previous year and think about what they would have done differently.  What they loved the most.  What they did not enjoy.  Then, there is the big question of what we want to do in the coming year.  

My 2023 came with a job change (or two).  It also brought with it a new inspiration with my writing.  I am back to working on book three of The Elements series.  For those keeping up, this will be Eve's story.  Eve has the gift of life.  She can create life in the form of plants.  She can help create life with animals.  The question is, as our four elements are growing and learning and surviving...what else can Eve do?  Now that Eve along with Nora, Ash, and Reed, have left SanCorp together, the four need to decide how to forage on in the world they have always been fugitives within.  There is also a part of them that wants to understand and set right the wrongs done by SanCorp not only to them, but what they are coming to understand, includes many others as well.  Stay tuned as Eve gets here story told. Coming as soon as I can get it written.  

Be save this new year.  If can offer any advice, it would be to take the time to find out who you are and what you want.   I have been trying to do that for several years now.  I think I'm getting closer to actually figuring it out.