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.

Whoa! I just realized that it's Friday again. Where in the world did the last week go? Well, here's what I'm celebrating. . .

1) Pay checks! We thought we could give up, but hub's company finally managed to pull through. *whew* That made me do a happy dance.

2) An unexpected scholarship came in for my daughter! Anyone who has kids headed off for college knows how nice those are.

3) Cookies! My son has baked some a coupe of times this week, which always makes my sweet-tooth smile.

And what about you? What put a smile on your face this last week? Survive that snow storm? Hear a great song? Pet a cat or dog? What are you celebrating?

Yay for 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.


It's been a rough week. . .my husband's company decided to not pay the employees their wages and gave no notification. So we're scrambling to find a solution, since there aren't many job possibilities here in the middle of nowhere, it's a bit frustrating. Good-bye sleep!

In other words, it's a super YAY for Celebrate the Small Things!!!


This week, I'm celebrating. . .

1) My daughter was on the radio yesterday morning! She's quite the social butterfly, so there's a little story behind this. A man came to pick up his wife at the gym where my daughter's cheer leading squad practices, and said daughter overheard that he works at out small town radio station. So she ran up to him and said, "How about making me famous?" He agreed (with some banter, I'm told) and asked her to come by this morning to discuss cheer leading, the up-coming pep-rally and the big games this weekend. . . that would be good news number two: her school's boy's basketball team is playing at State this weekend. It was fun to listen to her. I admire her pep and out-going attitude.

2) My oldest son swore in to the National Guard Reserve on Wednesday! He's been planning and informing himself for a year now, and finally figured out how to work it all in with his college plans. We're proud of him.

3) Another baby calf! This one is white and gray. . .and of course, oh so cute!

4) Starting the third writing/editing project this year! I've been in a writing slump the past couple of years. This year, I'm determined to up the game and send those pages flying into the world. Lol! It's sad how often I have to remind myself of this goal and force myself to hold to it--I'm going to need my son's drill Sergeant.


What about you? What are you smiling about this week? Did you get a chance to work-out? Buy a lovely pen or notebook? Drink a delicious beer? Wash those windows. . .whoa! Wait up! That's not a smiling thing. . .Find someone to wash those windows for you?????

What are you celebrating this week?

Cover Reveal: No Rest for the Wicked by Krystal Jane Ruin

I'm so excited to be helping out a good writer friend today as she unveils the amazing cover to her upcoming release! I betaed this book, and I can only give it a HUGE two thumbs up. It has magic, action, a spunky heroine, curses, romance, and all sorts of good things. (I hope she knows that I'd die to read a book 2 soon!)

Anyway. . .

Here's the beautiful new cover and all the greatness to look out for. . .

COMING. . .

MAY 10th!!!

NA Paranormal

Since her release from the psychiatric facility and into the smothering guardianship of her aunt, twenty-one-year-old psychic Tatum Torabi has been sneaking away to sell curses and plagues in the underground, a black market known for illegal and supernatural wares.

Tatum’s unique abilities catch the attention of a hella-creepy trash peddler who offers her a job tracking down people who owe his boss “a favor.” She couldn’t be less interested, but when she refuses, the company forces her compliance by threatening the lives of the only family she has left.

Because tracking barely scratches the surface of what they really want from her. There’s a reason Tatum is so good at making curses, and they want her to use those skills for a much darker purpose.

Will be available at. . .

And a lovely teaser!

And here she is. . .

Krystal Jane Ruin is the author of supernatural and paranormal fiction living in the Tennessee Valley. She can often be found knee deep in Sudoku and other puzzles, in a Youtube hole, or blogging about books, writing, and random things. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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. . .


 Flowers! These are popping up everywhere in the yard. Trees are budding. . .birds singing. Just wish I was ready for Spring.


And what about you? What put a smile on your face this last week? Delicious ice cream? Run into someone you haven't seen in awhile? Buy a neat hat? What are you celebrating?

A very simple IWSG

Happy March! Wow, didn't that one come quick this year?
With a brand new month comes the awesome IWSG!!! For those of you who don't know, this is a writer's support group. A HUGE one with all sorts of possibilities. And this is the monthly post, where us writers get together and share our woes or offer encouragement to those who need it.
Want to know more? Then head on over to the super Alex J. Cavanaugh, the guy who started this whole thing and join in.

Special thanks also goes to this month's co-hosts:  Tamara Narayan, Patsy Collins, M.J. Fifield, and Nicohle Christopherson!


This month. . .

I'm simply typing away. Without work, there's no gain.

Isn't that an easy sum up?


As to this month's question:

Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out? 

I've pulled out an old story before, but it wasn't 'really' old. It's more of a story that I'd like to get published someday but realize that it still needs work. It's gone through many edits. Gone through querying years ago and got full requests but ended there.

My gut's telling me that it's still missing something, and I've noticed that the gut is often right. Since I'm in no hurry (this isn't a race), I'm letting this particular MS steam and will wait for the right ideas to hit.

It's not like there aren't other. . .tons. . .mountains worth of stories waiting in line.


What about you? Ready to tear up a MS, jump on it and set it on fire? Doing a happy dance about a good story? Wondering if this whole writing thing is worth the time and trouble? Or are you on the edge of your seat, no longer able to take the suspense?
How's the writing world treating you?

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. . .

1) My son cooking dinner for us! It was a huge surprise. I stood at the stove with the recipe in front of me, and he suddenly came up behind me and pushed me aside saying, "I'm cooking tonight." Since I'd copied the recipe off of the internet with my chicken scratch, I needed to translate. But it was delicious.

2) Rocks! Rocks? Yes, rocks! I'm building a terrace garden, which includes a lot o' rock wall. Luckily, that's something we have tons of around here. So my husband, and I have been taking trips with the tractor and trailer down to the creek and moving rocks. I find the way they've been shaped and cut by the water so neat. (I'm getting a nice row of bruises on my thighs from lifting those heavier ones though.)

3) Wind chimes! My brother gave us one years ago, and it's been playing so nicely in the evenings lately.

What put a smile on your face this last week? Read a good book? Book a vacation? Meet some one for dinner or lunch? 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) Valentine's Day! We had a lot of fun creating a Valentine's box with my daughter. The teacher sent out a note weeks ago that the parents should help their child build imaginative boxes.
My husband had a blast with this and let his inner engineer take flight.  The two towers on either side are sweet-tart-heart dispensers with a slide compartment...and so robust an elephant could stand on them. Well, not quite, but my hubs tends to build like that. 
Anyway, I put the basic thing together. My daughter decorated with pretty pink fun. And even my youngest son jumped in and made the factory sign. 

2) Chocolates from husband!

3) Weeding? That sounds ridiculous, but it's true. We've jumped to upper 60's/lower 70's and are supposed to stay there at least over another week. From what I understand, it isn't rare around here that lettuce and such is planted mid-February. So, it's time to get my terrace garden built and planted. Part of me is happy. But most of me is grumbling. I REALLY wanted a longer winter because when it's nice on a farm, the work load explodes. Can't I be lazy just a little bit longer? Please!!!!

4) Writing! That's flowing better this week. So yay to that!



And what about you? What put a smile on your face this past week? Staying dry? Staying warm? Basking in the sun? Get a big Valentine's surprise? Watch a good movie? 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) Sunshine! It's makes the world seem so bright and warms the cheeks. I leaned against a fence post this last week after feeding cattle and simply enjoyed the warmth.

2) A new monitor! Well, new for me. My oldest son bought himself a new one and left his old one to me. Old = half a year in his book. But it's a big one (27 inch) and has a stand which lets it slide up and down or turn head over toes (well, if monitors had toes). Anyway, I can put two documents right next to each other and still read them! I'm a happy writer.

3) The chickens are laying more eggs. Finally. I find it frustrating to feed 24 chickens and MAYBE get 1 egg a day. Kind of makes me wonder why I even have them. But as long as they make up for it, I'll forgive them.

4) Broccoli cheese soup! I made a crock pot full this week with home-made Flat bread. Cream soups are one of my favorite comfort foods when the days are still a little chilly.


What about you? What put a smile on your face this last week? Get to play in the snow? Go swimming? Clean those windows? Catch a ray of sunshine? Finish your MS?

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) Online writing conferences and things! I don't participant in such things very often, so I was super excited to get on board for WriteOnCom this weekend. I also received a free voucher for a week long seminar on book marketing this past week. So, I've been soaking my brain full of information for the future. 

2) Chickens! I joined my parents at a small animal auction (for fun) this past week. My mother wanted to buy some chickens and ended up getting more than she'd hoped for. So I adopted four more. . .not that I really needed them. But yay to chickens, I guess.

3) Birds! They are gliding in again. So it looks like Spring isn't too far away. Actually, if the weather holds (and it appears it might), neighbors are telling me it will be time to plant lettuce and such in only two more weeks. 


And what about you? What put a smile on your face this last week? Go on a walk? Meet a friend somewhere? Find the perfect pair of socks? What are you celebrating?

IWSG - Bring out the Clowns!

A brand new year, and new breezes in the writing world. What a fresh IWSG!

This is a monthly blog hop created by the super stealthy and amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh. Writers are a species of their own and often misunderstood. This hop offers a safe place to seek support or offer it to others.

Go ahead and head on over here to find out more or jump on board!


My writing mood this month?

The circus is in town, and if I want to to perform, I'm going to have to start the hard, back-breaking work of pulling up that tent... organizing the performs...getting those animals calmed down...and the clowns???
Pft! You try to control a bunch of pie throwing clowns.

That's what I feel like this month.

One short story is warming in publication giddiness...I can already smell the cotton candy.
One MS is on the tight rope, being viewed by the ring master as to whether or not the world is ready to see the act.
Another short is being mended...hopefully, those stitches hold in time for the acrobats flight!
And yet another story has shown up at the gates, wanting a chance to join in on the fun..exactly the sort which might bring the audience to cheer.

It's down to a juggling act and lots of hard work. Will the circus take off? Will it run out of funds before the big day and have to postpone...shutdown? That's why this month, I'm screaming---bring out those clowns!


As to the question: Has being a writer changed me as a reader?

Big yeppers to that! As a reviewer, I read 195 books last year. I still get lost in the stories and fall in love with characters. BUT I see the mistakes. Not only grammar but pacing, plotting and bad descriptions. I've learned what works, and what doesn't (for me, at least, as a reader) I recognize and analyze the reasons right away. I've even thought of starting a series on my blog about it.

That's the good part. I could learn from this. I should know what to watch out for and improve my writing immensely.

Then reality hits - I know all of this, but that doesn't mean I can use the knowledge myself. Not completely. As a writer, it's impossible to step back far enough away from your work to be able to see these problems...even if you know what they look like. And it frustrates me to no end. This knowledge has made my inner editor a pathological psycho and all but strangled my writing. It's turned into an out-in-out war to get even one page written and not want to tear it up.

And this kind of ties in with my circus. I only wrote one new short story last year. Only edited the year before. Everything else...all bright new WIPs...were killed before they were born thanks to the inner editor psycho. But I'm pulling up that tent...fighting those stubborn elephants.

The show will go on.