Celebrate the Small Things

This weekly blog hop is sponsored by the amazing Lexa Cain,  and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner from Writing Off the Edge and myself. 

What exactly are we celebrating?

Every week, wonderful things happen, tiny things, which make us smile. But as time grabs us up, we forget all about these moments as if they never existed at all. This is the chance for us to reflect back on those and remember that there are tons of things worth celebrating.

This week, I'm celebrating. . .

1) Getting a short story worked out! I had some plot issues that were refusing to slide into place, but it's finally fitting together. I might get this thing written after all!

2) An email, in which coming up, possible publication dates were mentioned. I know this is nothing huge, but it always makes me smile and feel a little excited to see that the date is drawing near and will really happen. It's not always a sure business—as well all know—and although I didn't doubt this one, that email still just brightened my day a little bit more.

3) Pumpkins! A farmer has a flatbed trailer full of very large, bright orange, gorgeous pumpkins set- up in town. I haven't bought any yet (I will soon), but I love driving by and gazing at them. Especially since he has big pots of colorful mums scattered in between. It's a beautiful sight. . . WHICH I should take a picture of and post for you guys to see. (Lol! and so the thoughts hit)

4) Being taken out to lunch! My son and I ventured to the big city this week to buy a few items I can't get here in town, and we used the opportunity to go out for lunch. His treat (which is SO sweet!). Anyway, it was a buffet with the most lovely, enormous dessert section I've ever seen. So after eating tons of veggies (that's me being healthy first), I plundered that section and even had several extra helpings of fudge and pecan pie. As an extra bonus, they had bags of pink cotton candy, which my son and I grabbed for his younger siblings, who were stuck in school. 

Now, I know where to go for my sugar rush.

So, what about you? What put a smile on your face this last week? Take a stroll through the pumpkin patch? Drink a lovely cup of tea? Have some time to simply sit and enjoy the world?

What are you celebrating this week?

Celebrate the Small Things!

This weekly blog hop is sponsored by the amazing Lexa Cain,  and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner from Writing Off the Edge and myself. 

What exactly are we celebrating?

Every week, wonderful things happen, tiny things, which make us smile. But as time grabs us up, we forget all about these moments as if they never existed at all. This is the chance for us to reflect back on those and remember that there are tons of things worth celebrating.

This week, I'm celebrating. . .

1) Firewood. . .again! Thanks to my brother and a tree struck by lightning this last Spring, I was able to get another trailer load in. And now, I'm set for the winter! 

2) Job looking brighter! My husband's workplace has been riding the financial trouble line all year, which meant all sorts of income trouble for us. Job hunting has not gone well either. But as of this week, a buyer was found, and the company appears to be headed for much better days. . . and there are hints that my husband's job is in for some improvement as well.

3) I'm on Youtube/Booktube again! Technical difficulties are a huge problem in my world, and this summer became a no-man's land on my Booktube reviews. I still have a few issues I'm not sure how to handle, but I finally got one up again this week and will fight to keep them coming. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJhQ1T8dLx1v9xkiLzlJSnA

4) Writing is on the upswing! I actually had an entire day this week to sit down and simply write. It was heaven! I finished the final edits on a short for publication in the next month or so, and three more shorts should be done within the next weeks. I've been plugging away smoother on a MS as well. . .although I'm still not completely sure what I'm doing on that end. Now, if I could only write faster than a half-dehydrated slug.

What about you? What put a smile on your face this last week? Hear some good news? Receive a surprise in the mail? Find a good seat on the bus? See a lovely leaf?

What are you celebrating?

Celebrate the Small Things

This weekly blog hop is sponsored by the amazing Lexa Cain,  and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner from Writing Off the Edge and myself. 

What exactly are we celebrating?

Every week, wonderful things happen, tiny things, which make us smile. But as time grabs us up, we forget all about these moments as if they never existed at all. This is the chance for us to reflect back on those and remember that there are tons of things worth celebrating.

This week, I'm celebrating. . .

1) A visit to my daughter! Now, that she's had time to settle into her dorm, I decided it was time to pay her a visit and check things out. So, I drove the whole hour and a half (not too far but just far enough) and enjoyed the afternoon with her. All was well. Nothing surprising. . .dorm rooms really haven't changed much in the last 20-30 years. And I got a pumpkin-spice latte at Starbucks on top of everything. 

2) Firewood! Yep, it's that time of year again and my pile is growing fast. Since my big wood helper is sitting on the sidelines this year thanks to his hip fracture, I've convinced my brother to come on up and help out. That is definitely the next thing to celebrate--siblings. The world is so much brighter with them.

3) Cool nights! Even when the days still push the upper 80's at times, the lower 50's at night are heavenly. I love leaving the bedroom window open, cuddling in the blankets and letting the cold air sweep in. Finally.

What about you? What put a smile on your face this last week? Catch a pretty sunrise or sunset? Talk to someone you haven't spoken with in years? Find a book you've been dying to read on sale?

What are you celebrating this week?

Celebrate Those Small Things!

This weekly blog hop is sponsored by the amazing Lexa Cain,  and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner from Writing Off the Edge and myself. 

What exactly are we celebrating?

Every week, wonderful things happen, tiny things, which make us smile. But as time grabs us up, we forget all about these moments as if they never existed at all. This is the chance for us to reflect back on those and remember that there are tons of things worth celebrating.

This week, I'm celebrating. . .

I'm back! I only meant to take one week off, but things went crazy and before I knew it, two weeks slid by.

1) My son is back from Boot Camp and Training! Yay! or yay? This one is bittersweet, and one reason I skipped two weeks. Two days before his graduation, his hip gave out during an easy run, and after an xray, turned out to be a complete hip fracture. He was immediately moved into surgery and received two screws. The good thing: this happened after the official training was over so he doesn't have to repeat anything but was allowed to graduate. The bad thing: Well...broken hip, of course, and six months before he'll be back to form. But at least, he can heal at home and continue all of his college courses online.

2) Health and the ability to eat everything again! Last week, the stomach bug decided to slam through our family. It was quick, so that was good. (And another reason I missed last week).

3) Noticing that my kids are turning out just fine as they grow up. Any mom understands this one. Last week, my two children lost a friend to a car accident. I was impressed how they handled it and gave comfort to their friends, never showing the slightest hesitation in their beliefs and using it as a support for themselves and others.

4) Watermelon! My hubs decided to try to grown some in our wasteland. . .*cough*. . .what was once a vegetable garden. (Nothing ever grows there, so I moved the garden to another spot, one that actually grows vegetables). Low and behold, watermelon grew! We have 5 or 6 juicy, sweet melons and my hubs is all smiles.


What about you? What have you been up to which put a smile on your face? See a flock of birds fly by? Catch a helping hand in a time of need? Did you get the chance to help someone else? What are you celebrating this week?

IWSG and Winter's Siren

It's time for another meeting of THE INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP . . .Better known as IWSG because otherwise, it is a mouthful.

For those who don't know (And you don't???), this is an awesome group of writers, started by the just as awesome Alex J. Cavanaugh, with the purpose to support, help, assist, offer advice, offer a shoulder, cheer on, and about anything else you can think of along these lines. Writing is a roller coaster ride, and writers need all the support they can get.

If you want to join in, head over to the main site and sign up.

A special thanks to this month's cohosts:  Tyrean Martinson,Tara Tyler, Raimey Gallant, and Beverly Stowe McClure


This month, I'm just going to stick to the question;

Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing? For example, by trying a new genre you didn't think you'd be comfortable in?

Yes, my writing has surprised me. The first time this happened was with a YA Steampunk short story I wrote for an anthology. It was 'romance' and totally out of my comfort zone. It ended up not being horribly romantic but more the kind of over-the-top romance which to this day has me giggling and rolling my eyes when I read it. (Oh, and I've heard that this is exactly the same response other readers have gotten). It's not what I was aiming for, but I still enjoy reading it.

Otherwise, genre hopping seems to have become a specialty of mine. I claim to be a MG/YA writer, but everything I've published up until now rakes across a huge genre and audience range.  Who knows where writing will take me next. Maybe that's part of the fun.


And what about you? How has your writing surprised you?

******

Today, I'm excited to help a wonderful writer buddy of mine reveal the cover to her upcoming book!

Ready?

For the last five years, Fawn has been the star soprano of a secluded opera house, forced to sing for her kidnapper.

His daughter, Devi, waits patiently in the shadows, hiding a face so horrible that no one who’s seen it will look at it again.

As Fawn plots her escape, whispers spread through the shaded corridors of dark sorcery, warning her that she must flee by the next opening night.

But when Fawn draws close to the exit, it’s Devi who’s standing in her way, leading Fawn to suspect that Devi has something to gain if she fails.

COMING. . .

NOVEMBER 1st, 2017!!!

Cover Designer Attribution: http://www.najlaqamberdesigns.com/

I had the chance to beta this one and love how dark and creepy and twisted it is, while still being sweet with a lovely touch of longing.

In other words, friends of dark fiction and retellings are going to love this one.

Go ahead and take a sneak peek at Chapter One over on Krystal's website here