Ready. Set. Write!

Another week is over, and that means it's also time for another update of Ready.Set.Write! What's that? Well, it is 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 in the sun and simply enjoying summer. 


How did I do on last week's goals?

Write two chapters .....Nope, crash burn on this one! 

After spending last week with intensive editing to get a MS out the door, I let tons of regular life things slide. This week, I ended up playing catch-up on life. But I did read 5 books for reviews and discussed my WiP with my family. But writing itself? Not a word.

Goals for this week?

Blblblblblbblb....   Let's say, write 500 words. Lame? Perhaps, but school starts up again soon and there's still a fairly big list of things my kids want to do this summer. So I'm concentrating on that and keep my writing goals low.

A favorite phrase/line from my story that sums up what I wrote/revised. . .

Idea composing. 

The biggest challenge I faced . . .

Catching up with the rest of life!

Something I love about my MS. . .

The possibilities. Oh, and the wonderful image my daughter put in my head about one of my characters during our discussions. I have a six foot, very solid, dark man who I lovingly deem in my conversations as the Fairy God-Bro. My daughter wants me to put a tiny pair of pink, fairy wings on his back. Now, wouldn't that be an odd sight for a burger flipper?

So what about you? I bet you got more writing done than I! Attack those words or did they attack you? Heading into some last goals before the end of the summer? 

How's your writing moving along?

Cover Reveal for Tara Tyler's Simulation!

To go with the cover reveal, here's a bit of writerly advice from Tara Tyler...

Friends are invaluable. True friends tell it like it is. If they have time to read your book, they'll tell you. If they don't want to, they'll tell you. But if they want to and they feel up to critiquing it, you've found gold! Hearing input from an honest beta reader gives an author necessary information. Try to get one or more!

Now,
It's finally here!! I give you the taunting cover of SIMULATION!

SIMULATION by Tara Tyler
Release Date: September 14, 2015

In 2082, androids are an essential part of daily life. Some are helpful, some would make better toasters, and some are so human-like they're creepy. Back in Atlanta, Detective Cooper's latest client has him searching for her boyfriend who she thinks was replaced by a simulation, an illegal clone android. The guy also happens to be a popular new congressman.

To make matters more frustrating, Cooper keeps crossing paths with his ex, FBI Agent Geri Harper who is looking for the same guy. As Cooper closes in, Geri is kidnapped. But when she resurfaces in Washington and goes on a killing spree, he knows it isn't her. Now under suspicion himself, Cooper must find the real Geri to prove her innocence, not to mention hunt down the powerful villain behind it all. Never a dull moment.

Book One, POP TRAVEL

Re-released July 1, 2015

In 2080, Detective J.L. Cooper thought he could avoid pop, until he stumbles onto a video of a traveler who turns to dust. With help from the neurotic, genius “Creator” and a beautiful Southern charmer, Cooper has to expose the deadly glitch and shut it down or die trying. No problem.

Available now!

Amazon ~~~ B&N ~~~ Goodreads

Tara Tyler has a loud voice, loves to help others, and is ever forgetful. That's why she always writes things down, sings, and teaches. She has no idea how she became a writer, but as long as the characters and stories are flowing, she'll never stop! Tara is also the Lazy Housewife, one of the Really Real Housewives of America - a new blog dedicated to doling out tips and advice on how to economize time and money for a happier life.

Twitter ~~~ Facebook ~~~ Blog ~~~ RRH

Also by Tara Tyler, MG/YA Fantasy series, Beast World,

Book One: BROKEN BRANCH FALLS

Only a few days left for the POP TRAVEL giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Celebrate the Small Things

Yes! Yes! It's Friday! What a week. Whew!
And now, it's time to look back on it with 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) Getting my MS out the door! This one dragged with edits and rewrites. . .probably because I had a TON of rewrites. But now, it's gone and I'm doing a huge happy dance.

2) Going out to dinner! To celebrate that MS (this one really was a relief), we went out to dinner. Usually, that means Pizza Hut or McDs--we don't have a huge selection in our small town. . .or the surrounding next 45 minutes. . .but there is a touristy place that we hadn't tried and hubs wanted to go there. It was yummy! And wow, were those portions monstrous.

3) Butterflies! All over the ground are small butterflies. Red and brown ones, light blue ones, yellow ones, and every now and then there are big black ones with bright blue spots on their wings. They dance around the feet where ever one goes.

4) My daughter's cheerleading squad is going to State! They took 1st at divisions on Monday. It was the first time I'd seen such a competition (my daughter just joined the squad beg. June) and wow. Just wow. Those kids flip and jump and twist...three...four back handsprings after another and a twist on top of it. And the coed teams are amazing. Those girls fly! Actually, I'm glad my daughter is too tall to be a 'flyer', It'd make me nervous to watch her plummet back to the Earth from such heights.


And those are my happy moments this week. What about you? Ready for Fall to march in? Find a new swimsuit? Buy some new shoes? See a pretty, little bird? Jump in a rain puddle? What wonderful things put a smile on your face this past week?

Ready. Set. Write!

Weekend's over. . .so sad, but that also mean it's time for another update of Ready.Set.Write! This is 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 this summer seems to really be tough on the writing end.


How did I do on last week's goals?

- write second chapter, maybe a third on my WiP. - Nope, not done. My beta got back to me (yay!) and it's been a writing frenzy on those edits! I'm almost done and this thing will be out the door tonight. . .or tomorrow morning. So yep, count those goals met!

Goals for this next week?

With my manuscript off to agent hands (and crossing my fingers she'll like it), I'm finally going to attack my Fast Food Princess WiP head on!

- Write two chapters

A favorite line from my story or phrase/word that sums up what I wrote/revised. . .

More emotion, smoothing things out. . .Lol! Rewrites never end. That's one thing I've learned.

The biggest challenge I faced. . .

The same as always - time! This week I spent 4 days on the road, driving here and there and everywhere. A small part of me is actually not sad that school starts again in a few weeks.

Something I love about my MS. . .

My characters have grown on me. After several comments from readers and lots of contemplation, I decided to take something away from one of my bigger characters, a toy of hers. And part of me felt sorry for her. I know she's pouting that I did it, but I had to for moral compass sake. 

I wish I could give her a lollipop instead.

And what about you? How did your writing go?

Celebrate the Small Things!

Yep, it's Friday, and time for another episode of Celebrate The Small Things!!!

This is a weekly blog hop sponsored by the amazingLexa 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 has been a crazy-sauce week. . .you know, those weeks where one spends most of the time driving from one spot to the other and isn't sure what one got accomplished? But here's what I'm celebrating:

1)  A cute, 50's cafe! We went to a small town near here named Ava, where they have an old fashioned cafe. It was fun to jet back in time, especially with the prices. Scoop of ice cream is 25 cents (with 15 flavors to choose from). Large soft drink is 25 cents. And hot tea is 5 cents.  Although in the video, everything was still 5 cents...yeah, you heard the right...now, its 25 cents. Inflation ;) But my pocket book still did a happy dance!

2) (FB followers will have seen this one ;) ). A hawk landed on my patio to enjoy a mid-day snack but got his foot stuck in the process. It took me an hour or so to free him (not an easy bird to mess with). He was beautiful.

3) Evenings! Now, with the weather really heating up--gosh, I hate sweating all of the time--it's so nice to go outside in the evenings and simply sit there a few minutes with a iced drink and enjoy whatever cooler temperatures drift by. Lol! Okay, usually these 'sit' sessions are lucky to last more than 5-10 minutes, but I take what I can get.


And what about you? What wonderful things put a smile on your face? A rainbow in an unexpected place? Find a super book? Get a kind word from a stranger? What are you celebrating?

Ready. Set. Write! Update

Oh my! It's Monday again and time for another update for Ready.Set.Write! This is a super summer writing intensive sponsored by Alison, Katy, Erin, Elodie and Jamie, which helps us writers not to fall into a complete summer laziness. Plus, it's a ton of fun.

Did I meet last week's goals?

- finish WIP outline - Sort of.  I was working on it and realized that with the basic frame already set, I want to wing the rest of the details. So we'll call the basic skeleton quits for now.

- rework several chapters - reworked the first and am rewriting from there, since the story is going to be a little different than first planned.

- finish that garden furniture - it's painted. And I started sewing the cloth part, but my sewing machine broke!!! Until I get the spare part, it's done with that goal. So I painted fence posts and did weeding instead. Grrr.

Goals for this next week. . .

If beta notes come back, the completion of changes and sending that MS out the door is this week's goal. If not. . .

- write second chapter, maybe a third on my WiP.

A favorite line from my story or a phrase/word which sums up what I wrote. . .

In a flawless wave of motion, I stuffed the burger into the bag, glided by the heat lamps for a lovely French fry toss and snatched up the waiting cola inclusive straw and lid. If packing an order could be scored, this one earned a perfect ten.

The biggest challenge I faced. . .

Getting my mind into tweeny Princess mode and out of scifi clones. Disney is my netflix friend right now. (And Daredevil, but that isn't very princessy....or?)

Something I love about my MS. . .

It's tweeny, carefree and sweet fairy taley, while hitting a real historical twist that's been long forgotten by most. So there is some fun research involved - yippee!

What about you? How's your summer writing moving along?

Celebrate the Small Things!

Hello, Friday! And hello to another episode of Celebrate The Small Things!!!

This is a weekly blog hop sponsored by the amazingLexa Cain, and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner fromWriting 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) Blackberries! My parents have TONS of bushes on their new property and have been picking between rainstorms. So today, I'm going to be cooking up some jam.

2) Dinner! My oldest daughter is waitressing, so we decided to go out and bug her one evening. She does such a great job. Lol! It's amazing how hard working kids are when it doesn't include work at home.

3) Ice Cream! I've been indulging this week and loving every second.


So what about you?

Find a penny on the parking lot? Did gas prices suddenly drop a cent or two? Meet someone unexpected while out and about? What put a smile on your face this past week?

*****

And I just found out something else to celebrate! A very talented blogger buddy is having a super sale on her YA Paranormal for the next few days!!!

Medeia Sharif's 52 LIKES is 99 cents on Amazon for a limited time. This edgy, paranormal YA title has been receiving rave reviews. Important issues such as rape, bullying, and social media abuse are tackled in this novel. You can connect with Medeia through her blog, Twitter account, Goodreads page, and Instagram to learn more about this book and her other titles.

52 LIKES, Evernight Teen, 2015: After a brutal rape and near-murder, Valerie wants to get past feelings of victimhood from both the assault and her history of being bullied. She’s plagued by not knowing the identity of her rapist and by the nasty rumors in school about that night. Valerie follows clues from ghostly entities, past victims of the rapist-murderer, contacting her through a social media site—why do all of their eerie photos have 52 likes under them? Their messages are leading her to the mystery man, although he’ll put up a fight to remain hidden.

Ready. Set. Write! Check-in!

Good morning, Monday! Time for another update for Ready.Set.Write! This is a super summer writing intensive sponsored by Alison, Katy, Erin, Elodie and Jamie, which helps us writers not to fall into a complete summer laziness. Plus, it's a ton of fun.


Did I meet last week's goals???

- outline WiP - halfway

- rework first 2 chapters that were already written-ish - didn't even glance at them

- finish my garden table and chair refurbishing project so I can use them (has nothing to do with writing? Sure it does when I want to sit with my pencil and pad in the sun)  - halfway

But I don't see myself as a failure. My betas got my MS back to me at super, lightning speed, and since I'm kind of on a tight schedule with that one, I hit the revisions right away and am sending the MS to my 2nd round of betas today. So I consider my goals met but altered.

My goals for this week?

Note: If my next betas are as fast as the last, those revisions will make any other goals void because I need to get this one in my agent's hands soon.

Otherwise,

- finish WIP outline

- rework several chapters

- finish that garden furniture

A favorite line from my story or a phrase/word which sums up what I wrote:

More brainstorming. . .more explanation

The biggest challenge I faced:

Time. Surprise visitors and a finger infection which required out-patient surgery for my daughter ate up tons of time this past week.

Something I love about my MS:

That my kids convinced me to rewrite this once shelved manuscript. I wrote it a few years ago, but it was a mess. Still, my kids never forgot the characters and have insisted I dig it out and redo it. So this is a work of love for them.

How was your writing week?

Celebrate the Small Things!

Hello, Friday! And hello to 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) Getting our hay done! The field's been cut and baled, partially by us but mostly by a dairy farmer since our vintage machinery was giving my hubs a headache. But done is done, so I'm happy!

2) A $4 microwave! I got it at a local auction, and it's pretty new and in great shape. I'm not a microwave fan, but my hubs and kids are, so this was for them.

3) A new book! I was lucky enough to win this over at Project Middle Grade Mayhem and received it this last week. Yay!

4) Beta notes! My betas were SUPER-duper fast - I mean speed of light crazy quick - and their comments are so helpful. I love how others can spot problems like that. So helpful!


And what about you?
What made you smile this week? A flower growing in a crack on the sidewalk? Interesting clouds in the sky? An unexpected nice comment at work? What are you celebrating?

IWSG

Gosh, these sneak up so quick, but it's time for the wonderful IWSG! This is the brainchild of the just as wonderful Alex J. Cavanaugh, and in his words is:

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!

Thanks also goes to his co-hosts this month:
Charity Bradford, S.A. Larsen, AJ, 
Tamara Narayan, Allison Gammons, and Tanya Miranda!


This month I'm in a good spot. All is calm, words are flowing and my muse seems as satisfied as a poodle on a noodle.

Although us writers are always wanting to be published. . .and I'm pushing to get tons done. . .it's no longer a hectic feeling race for me. I'm trying to enjoy writing, write what I love, write it as best as I can, send it off and see where it goes from there.

Then, I grab an ice tea, lean back and let it go like this. . .

What about you?

Frustrated by lack of words? Feeling like nothing ever moves forward? Or are you sitting in the rain . *ahm*

sun and sipping on the slushie?