Celebrate the Small Things

What a lovely week it's been and now, it's time to celebrate! 

This is the day we look back and remember all those small and big things which put a smile on our faces. Yes, it's time to Celebrate The Small Things!!! 

This is a weekly blog hop sponsored by the amazing Lexa Cain, and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner from Writing Off the Edge and myself.  If you'd like to join in and add a little more joy to your week, the go ahead and sign-up on the linky below!

This week, I'm celebrating. . .


1) Getting down into that WIP. I know where this baby is going now, and I'm ready to work my way through it. It always takes me a bit to get to this point mentally, and for me, it's a big step forward when it does. 

2) Writing gloves! I suffer from bad circulation and my fingers always freeze when I play piano or type or write or anything. So I ordered myself a pair of fingerless gloves. Cooler weather may now come!


And that pretty much covers it for me. Now, it's your turn. What put a smile on your face this last week? And yes, I do love reading about your little moments of happiness too....maybe that's my 3rd thing to celebrate - the chance to celebrate with the rest of you! (*cringe* wow, that sounds a bit over the top...I'm not usually quite this cheesy) But do tell!

Ready.Set. Write!

Ready.Set.Write! is sliding into the last week...right along with the rest of the summer days. *sigh* For those of you who don't know what this is (or was), it's a super summer writing intensive sponsored by Alison, Katy, Erin, Elodie and Jamie, which helps us writers not to fall into complete summer laziness and actually get some writing done. We cheer each other on, strive for goals and write whatever we can while eating ice cream, swimming, basking in the sun and simply enjoying summer however it may be. 

And here's how I'm doing.....

How did I do on last week's goals?

Write 5000 words.   Oh, boogabooogaboooooogaaaa. . .Well, I wrote quite a bit, but it didn't make my MS 5000 words fatter. I ended up grabbing one of my pretty notebooks and writing several paragraphs, going back to notes, heading on to research, noting some more, going back to paragraphs, heading to summary. . . a lot done (thousands and thousands of words) just not on pure word count.

This week's goals. . .

Getting that MS fatter! It's time to add those chapters and see where it goes. For better or worse.

A favorite line/phrase from my MS or sums up my writing/revising. . .whatever. . .

Emotional development. Action always comes easy to me, so this time I'm making sure the emotional end is laid solid and clear.

The biggest challenge I faced. . .

Figuring out exactly what path to take with this MS. Since it's a mixture of reality and fantasy, I've been having trouble deciding what the exact balance between the two should be. I want to keep a realistic feeling but the peppering in of Egyptian gods could easily throw it in another direction. Some how it has to all mix together, smooth and neat.

Something I love about my MS. . .

So many things! The Cinderella. . .*cough* Rhodopis twist. My main character's path of finding herself. The fairy god-bro (gosh, I love that guy!) The craziness of working in fast food, which can only be beat by the lunacy of high school social life. My character's eccentric parents, especially her mother and her decorating extremes. Oh, and a Star Trek convention nerd's original phaser. Moon phases. Egyptian god attitudes. Stolen artifacts. . .*takes deep breath*  Yep, I love the vibrant chaos of it all!

But realistic and balanced. 

Yeah right.

And what about you? Ready for the last week? 

Celebrate the Small Things!

Yet another week has passed by and that means it's time for another episode of Celebrate The Small Things!!! (I love Fridays!!!!)

This is a weekly blog hop sponsored by the amazing Lexa Cain, and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner from Writing Off the Edge and myself.  The purpose: to help us remember all those wonderful, little things that put a smile on our faces this past week (and big ones too).

You can sign-up on the linky below!

This week, I'm celebrating. . .


1) Cooler temperatures! The 90 degrees with 98% humidity days are finally over and now, lower 80's (with just as high humidity but we're ignoring that) are here making it so much nicer to go outside.

2) I've been baking again! With the cooler temperatures, I don't mind flipping on the oven as much. Standing over a hot oven/stove in hot temperatures is simply not my idea of a good time.

3) Finding a 2nd hand store with name brands! This isn't so much for me. I rummaged through the racks and didn't find a single thing I liked. But my daughter discovered a treasure chest.

4) Yummy chocolate! In the care package from Ready.Set.Write! that I won was a chocolate bar I'd never seen before. It had M&M type candies in it and gummy bears and pop rocks. I wasn't sure of the combination at first (gummy bears in chocolate usually isn't my thing), but the pop rocks set it off. I couldn't help but giggle when they zapped around my mouth.


What about you--what are you celebrating? Eat a chocolate chip cookie? See a funny shaped cloud in the sky? Meet someone you haven't seen for ages? Find a great book somewhere? What are you celebrating this week?

Ready. Set. Write!

It's time for Ready.Set.Write! For those of you who don't know what this is, it's a super summer writing intensive sponsored by Alison, Katy, Erin, Elodie and Jamie, which helps us writers not to fall into complete summer laziness and actually get some writing done. We cheer each other on, strive for goals and write whatever we can while eating ice cream, swimming, basking in the sun and simply enjoying summer however it may be. 

How did I do on last week's goals?

Write 1000 words - Done! But not on the MS I was planning on attacking. I have another half-way completed MS on the shelves, and that one called to me instead. They scream--I listen!

This week's goals. . .

Kids are in school, so things can really get under way now! I'm planning on writing 5000 words and maybe revising a chapter or two on something else. Writing world, watch out because I'm going to hit this hard!

A favorite line/phrase from my MS or sums up my writing/revising. . .whatever. . .

Go deep and add layers.

The biggest challenge I faced. . .

Back to school hits like a tidal wave to our family's daily routine, and it takes a bit for things to settle back into some sort of normal flow. Oh, not that we're there yet. . .but it's only going to get smoother from here.

Something I love about my MS. . .

The MS I pulled out this last week is set in the 1860's. It's so fun to dive into the setting and take a zap back in history.

What about you? Get any writing done this last week?

Celebrate the Small Things

Yep, another week has passed by, which also means it's time for another episode of Celebrate The Small Things!!!

This is a weekly blog hop sponsored by the amazing Lexa Cain, and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner from Writing Off the Edge and myself.  The purpose: to help us remember all those wonderful, little things that put a smile on our faces this past week (and big ones too).

You can sign-up on the linky below!

This week, I'm celebrating. . .




1) Dragonflies! This time of year, a large swarm of these beautiful creatures collects behind our hay barn each evening for a bug diving spectacle. There's over 100 of them swooping through the air. An amazing site, I'm so glad to experience.

2) A Writer's Care Package! Anyone who follows me, might have noticed I'm involved in Ready.Set.Write! this summer. I was lucky enough to win the care package for last week and am so looking forward to it. Thanks, guys!

3) A trip to the Discovery Center! As a last hurray, the kids and I went to a type of science/children's museum. There were all sorts of activities from seeing fruit fly mutations to a large water table where one could build their own streams to a bed of nails. The kids had a lot of fun.

4) Scratching cows! A calf I bought a few weeks ago is a real attention monster and loves to get scratched on the neck and behind the ears. The other day, some of the other cows caught on to this and stepped forward for a scratching too. I told my hubs, we might as well invite them into the house as 'house' cows at this rate. . .or maybe not. 

And what about you, what are you celebrating?

Ready. Set. Write! Update

It's time for Ready.Set.Write! For those of you who don't know what this is, it's a super summer writing intensive sponsored by Alison, Katy, Erin, Elodie and Jamie, which helps us writers not to fall into complete summer laziness and actually get some writing done. We cheer each other on, strive for goals and write whatever we can while eating ice cream, swimming, basking in the sun and simply enjoying summer however it may be. 


How did I do on last week's goals?

Write 750 words -     ....Do you hear that? That loud, horrific sound as if an airplane smashed into a mountain at full speed? Crash. Burn. Bang. Yep, that sums it up. I did absolutely nothing. *sigh*


Next week's goals?

Well, since the kids do start school Thursday, I'm going to go all out this time and say 1000 words!
Yeah, I'm still keeping it realistic.


A favorite line/phase that sums up my story or writing or revising. . .

OOooo (that's me revving up that singing voice)...those words are like a candle in the wind....   flickering like they want to exist but me not getting the chance to sit down and make them into reality.


The biggest challenge I faced. . .

Kids determined to live it up as best they can before heading off to school... and now, that they found out the school days are going to be 30 minutes longer this year, they're on a massive mission of last minute fun. World watch out these last three days!


Something I love about my MS. . .

Despite my inability to sit down and write, the characters and plot are whispering to me from the corners of my mind. They want to be written. They really do.


And what about you? How did your writing week go?

Celebrate the Small Things

Wow, another week has flown by, which means it's time for another visit to Celebrate The Small Things!!!

This is a weekly blog hop sponsored by the amazing Lexa Cain, and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner from Writing Off the Edge and myself.  The purpose: to help us remember all those wonderful, little things that put a smile on our faces this past week. (and big ones too.)

You can sign-up on the linky below!


This week, I'm celebrating. . .

Gosh, what am I celebrating?. . .


1) Humming birds! I put out a feeder in Spring only to draw in one bird a couple of times, and then he never came back. My feeder dried up, and that was the end of the story. Or so I thought. Last week, a little humming bird was flying over my flowers, so I rushed to get my feeder filled. Now, two birds are visiting me! 

2) Old town markets! There's a gigantic seed store close by called 'Bakersville', which offers heritage seeds. . .tons of them. To spice things up, they have an old-fashioned town with a jail, a country store, a black smith. . .well, you get the idea. We decided to pay them a visit, and although small, it was nice.

3) Arizona Ice Tea. Okay, now this isn't one of my favorites, but my hubs thought he'd do something really nice for me and surprised me with a can. (He never brings me anything). It was a super sweet gesture. 

And that's my week! What about you? What put a smile on your face this last week? Even a chocolate chip cookie counts. Or a pretty flower. Or a nice sunset. Hey,  how about the Blue Moon--get a chance to see that?

What are you celebrating???

IWSG

What time is it?
It's IWSG time! And just in case you don't know what that is, here is the description Alex J. Cavanaugh, the founder, gives:

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.


Here's this month's post from me:


Like the last month, I'm floating along without any huge insecurities. . .or am I?

I just gave my next MS up and am waiting on the verdict. Surprisingly, I'm not sitting on the edge of my seat or checking my email every two minutes. To top it off, I'm really excited about my next WIP and have been working out all sorts of plot holes and character details. For the most part, I'm happy and satisfied.

Still, insecurities sneak in.

With all the kids going back to school soon, I could theoretically. . .maybe. . .get a part-time job. It'd put more stress on the family but bring in some income (which the writing isn't doing at the moment). I feel a little guilty that I'm sitting around at home--playing with my cows and chickens (okay, they do bring in money)--and wonder if I'm wasting my time. So I sat down and told my husband that if this next MS doesn't find a home, maybe it's time I did find something with more income and push writing onto the back burner.

To my surprise, he disagreed and said it's more important for me to chase my dream.


And he's right. Chase that dream.


What about you? Wonder about all this writing stuff sometimes? Feel like it's going no where? Or are you walking on cloud nine?

How's your writing world this month?

Review: Twisted by Holly Hook with Giveaway

TWISTED

Deathwind Trilogy, Book 1

by Holly Hook

YA Fantasy/Paranormal

213 pages

Sixteen-year-old Allie’s going on the vacation of her life: tornado chasing. What can possibly go wrong with that?

But a terrifying, magical experience leaves Allie shocked and confused, and she learns that she now bears an awful curse.

Every time there’s a storm, she turns into a tornado. Literally.

Allie has no choice but to flee her hometown–if she stays, her new powers could harm or even kill everyone she loves.

She must return to the plains and find those who made her this way. But this journey is only the beginning of her adventure.

Twisted is the first book of the Deathwind Trilogy, a new young adult and teen paranormal romance series. The second book, Torn, is also available. Book Three of the Deathwind Trilogy, Unleashed, will be released in Summer of 2015.

MY TIDBITS

Looking for a new twist in the world of paranormal? Well, this one has it and a nice amount of tension too.

Sixteen-year-old Allie is a girl with special interests--adventurous ones which her parents don't really understand. Despite the first impression (Allie convinces her uncle to help her book a trip for tornado chasing behind her parents' back), Allie is a fairly level-headed girl who deeply cares for her family and those around her. That she has a little rebel in her actually makes her even more sympathetic.

There's a nice cast of friends and family. Some support her, some don't--a level mixture on both sides. Even for Allie, it's sometimes hard to know which person will back her up and which not. This definitely adds to the tension and mystery, and in most cases, works well.

The plot is quick paced and there is never a dull moment. There are twists and turns, and lots of mystery with points that could never have been guessed or foreseen. I really enjoyed the introduction of the beings with this new special type of curse but did still see a lot of holes. There's several things not well explained and some smaller section simply don't make sense, but if these are over-looked, the story is definitely fun to read.

All in all, it's a nice adventure and a great read. Despite some character trust issues I didn't quite get and some more filling in on the logic behind the talents, this was a good story, and I'll definitely be looking into the next book in the series.


And here she is. . . 

HOLLY HOOK!!!

Holly Hook is the author of the Destroyers Series, which consists of five young adult books about teens who are walking disasters...literally. She is also the author of the Rita Morse series, a young adult fantasy series still in progress, and After These Messages, a short ya comedy. Currently she is writing Twisted, a spin-off of the Destroyers Series due out in December. When not writing, she enjoys reading books for teens, especially ya fantasy and paranormal series with a unique twist.

You can find her also. . .

https://hollyannehook.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HollyHookAuthor

https://twitter.com/hollyannehook

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4114641.Holly_Hook

You can follow the tour here:
http://xpressobooktours.com/2015/05/12/tour-sign-up-twisted-by-holly-hook/


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ready. Set. Write!

It's time for my Ready.Set.Write! update. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's a super summer writing intensive sponsored by Alison, Katy, Erin, Elodie and Jamie, which helps us writers not to fall into complete summer laziness and actually get some writing done. We cheer each other on, strive for goals and write whatever we can while eating ice cream, swimming, basking in the sun and simply enjoying summer however it may be. 


How did I do on last week's goals?

- Write 500 words.  Done! 


Next week's goals?

Let's up the writing and shoot for 750 words! (Lol! Yeah, I'm staying realistic)


A favorite line/phrase from my story or a word/phrase which sums up my writing. . .

“$329 for the dress! You’ve got to be kidding me.” The paycheck, which had carried the weight of a golden nugget in my jeans before, mutated back into flimsy paper.

            Nina scowled. “You’re sliding into Grinch mode.”

The biggest challenge I faced. . .

None really. I know I'm not going to get anything on the writing front done until the kids hit school, and I've accepted that. Actually, this non-stress attitude has helped my muse send some wonderful character ideas my way.


Something I love about my MS. . .

The light-heartedness. I've got some characters with pretty out-there attitudes. . .and they come from the wildest directions. It's turning out to be a ton of fun to write.



How about you? Get some writing or revising done this last week?