Day 29: Guilty Pleasures #30DaysofGratitude

We try to live our best, healthy, and positive lives...

But sometimes we need guilty pleasures to get us through the tough times... Mine are drinks and donuts

and my favorite, chocolate chip cookies

Not good for the waistline, but good for uplifting the soul in times of need - LOL!

I'm thankful for my guilty pleasures, as long as I limit them. 

What are your guilty pleasures?

Visit Diane Burton who's joining me on this thankful blogfest!

Day 28: Beautiful World #30DaysofGratitude

I appreciate the beauty of nature.

God made our beautiful world and I am very thankful for it.

Visit Diane Burton who's joining me on this thankful blogfest!

Day 23: Time #30DaysofGratitude

I'm always wishing for more time...

I never seem to have enough

Time is precious. And I'm happy to have the time I've been given.

Use your time wisely!

Join in remembering what's important in life and being thankful!

Stop by others participating... Charity Bradford & Diane Burton

Day 21: Compliments #30DaysofGratitude

 The more you give, the more you get. Pass it on...

Join in sharing encouraging thoughts and things you're thankful for!

Stop by others participating... Charity Bradford & Diane Burton

Day Twelve: Protectors #30DaysofGratitude

I am deeply thankful for the dedicated people who put their lives on the line to save and protect others. It troubles me to see them mistreated. They are heroes, but they're also human.

Join in the humble thanks and share what you're thankful for.

Stop by others participating... Elizabeth Seckman, Charity Bradford & Diane Burton

Day Seven: Pets! #30DaysofGratitude

Pets are essential! They love unconditionally, they're always happy to see you (even if your cat snubs you, you know they love you in their own way--LOL) If I'm having a bad day, cross with everyone or too drained or stressed to be nice, my pet is there for me, even when no one else is.

Here are some happy puppy pics. My dogs are my Precious "Puppies" no matter how old they get!

CODY - Miss this guy! Awesome companion!

COMET - Loves to explore! A big sweetie!

Too many? Nah!

Hope they made you smile like they always do for me! Hug your pet =D

Join in the fun! Here's the Form: 30 Days of Gratitude 2020 Blog Hop

Stop by others participating... Elizabeth Seckman, Charity Bradford & Diane Burton

Day Two: Sunny Days #30DaysOfGratitude & #ShortStory - Episode 15

During the Fall and Winter, sunny days can be few and far between. I cherish them. They lift my spirits!

Join in the fun! Here's the Form: 30 Days of Gratitude 2020 Blog Hop

Stop by others participating... Elizabeth Seckman & Diane Burton

       

Dave didn't know he was lonely until his friends pointed it out. But when he gives in and tries an online dating site, something catastrophic happens - talk about a bad omen.

(Previous episodes)

The Day Dave Broke the Internet

by Tara Tyler

RECAP 14:

"You were shot? Oh my God!"

"I'm fine. I promise. Sharon fixed me up."

Kitty covered her mouth. Her eyes grew as big as light bulbs as she stared at her husband, frozen in shock.

15

Nathan didn't see her reaction as he worked. "Did you do as I asked? Are you packed?"

No response.

He turned to her. When he saw her condition, he grabbed her arms, looked into her eyes, and gently shook her.

"Kitty. Kitty. Are you packed?"

She melted and looked ready to cry, then pursed her lips and firmed, holding back her tears.

"Yes."

"Then we need to go. Dave, can you grab her bag? It should be in the basement."

"Sure." He ran downstairs, snatched it, and saw a rifle in the corner. He grabbed it too and ran back up.

Returning to her normal, determined self, Kitty asked more questions. "Why are we leaving? I thought we were going to stay here. Aren't they going to fix everything? Won't we be safe in our shelter?"

"Sure, but we don't know how long it will take. And how everyone else will react." He paused and gazed into her eyes again. "Just trust me, okay?"

Kitty searched all of their faces and saw their concern. "Okay."

Crash!

They all glanced at each other and hurried back outside. Someone had broken a window in Nathan's car and was sitting in the driver's seat. Dave couldn't believe it. This was the suburbs!

Nathan yelled at the guy. "Hey, Jim! What are you doing?"

"Sorry, Nathan. I gotta go get my kid. He was at a sleepover. He's probably freaking out. You don't mind, do you?" The crazed man locked himself in.

"Jim, you have to get out."

As Dave and his friends converged on the car, the crowd closed in around them. Others started to complain about why they needed the car, and that quickly became incoherent shouting and arguing. A fight broke out on the lawn.

When Nathan got the door open, Jim threw a punch at him.

Sharon grabbed the guy's arm and pulled him out. As he landed on the pavement, Dave and his friends piled in, and Nathan started the car. The neighbors shouted and banged on the windows but Nathan kept going, slowly rolling through the crowd. Dave was glad the people moved out of the way or they might've gotten run over. Looking back, he couldn't believe the chaos and insane behavior.

"That went bad fast."

Kitty's face was white as she stared straight ahead. She was going through another wave of shock.

Nathan caressed her cheek. "Kitty, you okay?"

She frowned as she came out of it and turned to him.

"Nathan, what are we going to do?"

"Don't worry, Dave has a plan."

Dave's eyes widened. He wanted to make a plan, but with the pressure he couldn't think straight. Everything was spiraling into mass hysteria. Looking around at his friends, he knew he couldn't let them down.

"Of course I do."

30 Days of Gratitude - A Countdown to Thanksgiving!

Welcome to IWSG - the Insecure Writers Support Group - monthly meeting.

I cling to this monthly post. It reminds me that there are other struggling writers out there--and I'm very happy to have many of you as friends. Sometimes I doubt the effectiveness and purpose of my blog. I often wonder if I should give it up. There are days I lose faith in writing. As technology grows, it seems like less and less people in the world read books--video entertainment is so much easier to access and process. Am I wasting my time? Then I express my feelings at our monthly meetings and get encouragement from my writer friends. And it feels even better to encourage them right back. We're in this together! 

And to help encourage each other even more, I'm bringing back a blogging tradition!

Starting on Oct 27, I'm going to blog every day with something I'm thankful for. I haven't done a Blog Hop in quite a while, but I think it's time.

If you'd like to join me on this 30 Days of Gratitude Countdown to Thanksgiving, here's the sign up list... This way, we can encourage each other and spread the thankfulness and positivity -- something we definitely need more of these days!

I'm going to do my best to visit everyone who signs up each evening. The 30 days are: Oct 27-Nov 25. Using the prompts is optional, but could be helpful.

A special note: I have to share my inspiration for this. I didn't come up with it on my own--lots have done it in the past. But recently, I was inspired by my friend Patty who's doing a similar daily thanks on Twitter. And after I made this, I saw Tyrean is taking on an even bigger challenge - daily gratitude through the end of the year. I have awesome friends!

In other news:

If you need to rant, join our weekly #WedWrant Chat on Twitter: 7:30-8:30 PM est. We have fun complaining, supporting, and making each other laugh!

Thoughts and prayers to anyone struggling or affected by the Virus 

or any other tragedies from this crappy year...

Things have to get better soon!

Writerly #News and Starving for #Reviews

Wow, this is going to be BIG! When I only post twice a month, the news piles up! But first...

A HUGE THANK YOU!! I thoroughly enjoyed my Cradle Rock Release Party because it really got me back out to visit my friends and make new ones!

Thanks for the tremendous response and supportive comments, everyone!
I'll be tweeting my thanks with links to the posts all month!
And the winner of my CRADLE ROCK RELEASE PARTY VOLUNTEERS is:

M.J. Fifield!

She will receive a $25 GC! 

Plus a free taco and my love! (name that movie)

My reconnection with blog and writer friends leads me to my monthly Insecure Writers Support Group check in. Releases are few and far between, so the IWSG seems to be the biggest reason I keep blogging. And communicating with my writer friends is the main reason I keep writing (that and the stories crammed in my head needing to be told!) I worry all the time that my books aren't selling and I can't seem to build my base - and I worry more that it might be because I'm only a so-so writer, which is very believable.

Last month, I shared my big plans. I wasn't working full time then, so I was very ambitious! Today, I started my long-term assignment that goes thru the rest of the year - great for sending first son to college, terrible for writing and marketing... Especially when I'm not encouraged to keep writing at home. That's why I keep participating in IWSG - you guys keep me going! Thanks!

Enough feeling sorry for myself, many others have much bigger problems than me. On to the NEWS!

>>>If you haven't seen this cover - you're in for a TREAT! LOOK!

INCENSE AND PEPPERMINTS.
by Cathrina Constantine
Release Date: March 10, 2017
Genre: YA/Coming of Age

During the Vietnam War-torn Sixties, a time of peace demonstrations, sit-ins, flag-burnings, and flower power, sixteen-year-old Mary Monroe has to choose between staying an innocent good girl or letting herself enter the exciting world of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.

When her brother offers a solution to her dilemma in the form of a little pill, Mary ignores the rumba in her brain and takes a walk on the wild side. She plunges into popularity and a life she’s only imagined, and meets Michael Covington, the hot newcomer. She’s instantly drawn in by his less than flawless exterior and bad boy sex appeal. Drifting from party to party, underground fight clubs, and through a series of drug and alcohol fueled adventures, Mary follows her new crush into a world where young girls are never truly safe from the predators lurking in the shadows and young men hiding from the harsh reality of war.

Feeling buzzed and as if her life is spinning out of control, Mary is assaulted by an unknown man at a party, and she’s left questioning if the enigmatic Michael is truly her hero or if he's the face behind the terrible attack. With every piece of information Mary learns about Michael, her doubts grow deeper, but with every minute she spends in his presence, so does her love.

With the war and her fear threatening to separate Mary and Michael forever, only the death of a friend, a crushing confession, and her own sensibilities can carry her over the threshold between adolescence and adulthood.

Add to your TBR list on Goodreads!

Cathrina is also looking for volunteers to help with her Book Blitz!

>>>I'm also excited to introduce...


TIME & CIRCUMSTANCE
by Theresa Milstein
Release Date: March 21, 2017
by Vine Leaves Press

This is Theresa's moving poetry and prose collection, and some of it is autobiographical. It's been a long journey, and she's finally made it! Congratulations, Theresa!

Pre-Order here!

Theresa's Blog

>>>And here's a GIVEAWAY offer!
There's one big thing we can do to help each other is post reviews (I'm reading three books I plan to review soon!) And with second books needing more love, I want to give out some copies for review!

Here's my free offer - if you've read POP TRAVEL or BROKEN BRANCH FALLS, I would love to give you a free ecopy of either sequel for review. Just mention in the comments if you're interested.

LASTLY...
>>>Here are the results of January's Writerly Survey about Creativity!

I should've added an "All of the above" choice - that's what the purple really represents!

Here are some interesting characters from the respondants... plus some traits.

• Corten - mixed race, friendly but elusive about past
• Angela Mercy - editor of the fictional Persons Magazine.
• Raz - A drinking bad ass kangaroo. His name came off the top of my head.
• Gawain, Callan, Darrion
• Kálmán Ferdinánd Rein (later Shimron Amichai) - left angry, cynical, bitter, ranting, trigger-happy, wounded after surviving four concentration-camps. Plus his fiancée Klaudia and his best friend Móric
• Arthur Finley - mousey demeanor, high IQ, brown hair, pale skin with freckles; glasses work in accounting but is really a spy, not the action hero kind, but a numbers/information spy.
• D’Anar Gillin - He feels much, which often translates into action. He has a tendency to often make decisions for those he cares about or feels responsible, sometimes without asking permission. The irritating thing about him is that he is usually right.  He possesses a keen intuition and instincts, and he knows it. high intelligence, but has a blind spot for himself and those closest to him.  Honor is a natural - sometimes at high personal cost.
• Clarence - likes the water because he's a shark
• Hutch McQueen - The good guy in bad guy clothing. 

Only a few writers surveyed, have written in mixed genres...

• Contemporary verse
• Crime thriller/Romance
• Sci Fi/Fantasy

I hope you enjoyed this extra long post! More questions coming up on 2/13! This time I'll be asking about "one-liners"

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Sweetheart Month!

CRADLE ROCK a-BUY, Baby!

WELCOME BACK TO THE FOREST!

CRADLE ROCK is Here!

Gabe the goblin just saved his town Broken Branch Falls from splitting apart. He also revealed that humans--horrible creatures of myth and legend--may actually be part of their history! But seriously? Nah!

Now Ona, Gabe’s girlfriend, is headed thousands of miles away to Camp Cradle Rock for Spring Break seeking evidence of humans. Gabe knows better than to tell a stubborn ogress she’s crazy, so he’s letting her go and spending the break at the beach like a normal teenage beast. And he’s determined to have a good time without her, whether he likes it or not.

But when Ona goes missing, Gabe and his friends set out for the wilds of the west to find her, no matter what dangerous creatures get in his way. Not even humans.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Check out the Book Trailer!

AAHH! I can't believe this is my fourth book release! I have to thank YOU ALL for it to be possible, because I wouldn't be here without your encouragement and advice! This community is so helpful and supportive. I'm very blessed to be a part of it. And here are my awesome volunteers letting me invade their blogs to spread the good news!

CRADLE ROCK RELEASE PARTY POST HOSTS:

	12/5	Patricia Lynne	Nerds Rule
	12/5	Heather R. Holden	Vampires
	12/7	Juneta Key	author spotlight interview
	12/9	Julie Flanders	Teenagers Now vs 80s
	12/9	Elizabeth Seckman	Beast-themed Recipe
	12/12	Lori L. MacLaughlin	Merfolk
	12/14	Sharon Bayliss	Ogres
	12/14	Tyrean Martinson	5 Reasons to use Chapter Titles
	12/16	Michael Di Gesu	Craziest Spring Break Trip
	12/17	Cathrina Constantine	Teen Dating
	12/19	Christine Rains	Hiking Faux Pas
	12/19	Alex J. Cavanaugh	Beast vs Monster - terminology
	12/21	Ann Noser	CR Quotes
	12/21	Heather M. Gardner	Discrimination - joking vs hurting
	1/4	Ken Rahmoeller	Dragons
	1/4	L. Diane Wolfe	Marketing Tips - Live & Online
	1/9	C Lee McKenzie	Grownup Stereotypes
	1/11	M. J. Fifield	Crazy Road Trip
	1/25	Crystal Collier	Poetry & Songs in Stories - Writerly Wed

I'm also giving away signed copies of Broken Branch Falls and Cradle Rock, some Beast World swag, and a $20 GC! I love giving stuff away =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
And my cool publisher, Curiosity Quills has another giveaway on Goodreads!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Cradle Rock

by Tara Tyler

Giveaway ends January 01, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Happy Holidays!!

#Writerslife - When #Writers Write & A preview of MOTLEY EDUCATION

Thanks to everyone who responded to my Writing Time Survey! The data was very interesting, but not surprising. I was so happy with the feedback, I made some charts!

Numbers are fun to interpret in graphs - hope you enjoyed some statistics of writing!

And here's one awesome writer who's finished a mysterious MG paranormal book and is ready to share the very cool, creepy cover! SA LARSEN!

Motley Education (Book One: The URD Saga)
by S.A. Larsen
Release Date: October 10, 2016

Forget having a lively after school social life, Ebony Charmed is fighting to keep the entire Afterlife alive.

Ebony’s less-than-average spirit tracking abilities are ruining more than sixth grade at Motley Junior High: School for the Psychically & Celestially gifted. Her parents argue so much her dad moved out. And, even though he’s scared of his own shadow and insists on bringing his slimy, legless lizard everywhere they go, Ebony wouldn’t survive without her best friend, Fleishman. 

When Ebony’s Deadly Creatures & Relics’ project goes missing, she learns her missing project is one of the keys to saving the spirit world. Now Ebony and Fleishman must battle beasts from Norse Mythology to retrieve her project before spirits are lost, the Well of Urd dries up, and Ebony loses all hope of reuniting her family. But someone lies in wait, and he has other plans...including creating a new world of spirits without them in it.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Motley Education has been aligned with Core Standards for grades 4-7. A guide will be available on the author’s website to download for FREE after the book’s release date.

S.A. LARSEN is the author of Motley Education, the first book in a middle grade fantasy-adventure series. Her work has appeared in numerous local publications and young adult anthologies Gears of Brass and Under A Brass Moon by Curiosity Quills Press. Look for her debut young adult novel, Marked Beauty, set for release in 2017. Find her in the land of lobsters, snowy winters, and the occasional Eh’ya with her husband of over twenty years, four children, a playful pooch, and two kittens.

Follow her on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram and connect with her on her Website & Blog.

Enter her Rafflecopter Giveaway !

Five lucky winners will each receive a signed bookmark and assorted swag! Contest runs from 09/15/16 to 09/23/16. Winners will be chosen my random.com.

~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~
Lastly, a huge thank you to all my Cradle Rock cover helpers 

Here are the blog post hosts in cased you missed them:

Patricia Lynne - 9/2 - the End of the World as we Know it

Julie Flanders - 9/2 - Beast Bios: Goblins 

Heather R. Holden - 9/2 - Novellas: Pros and Cons

Cathrina Constantine - 9/5 - Trends in Fantasy
Christine Rains - 9/12 - What's Hot (and What's Next)

Coming up this week! Ken Rahmoeller (ChemistKen) - 9/21 - Fantasy Then and Now

I'm still planning my RELEASE BLOG TOUR - if you'd like to join us
 and enter yourself for the chance to win a $25 GC in the process.
I'll be open to volunteers until October! (Then I start writing the posts)
Here's the FORM.

I'm back baby! Last days for #giveaway and #GOTseason6 hmm

I've had an awakening! I finally came out of my long winter slumber and participated in a book event!

Ohioana was my first and favorite book event and I look forward to it every year. I always love hanging out with author friends and meeting new awesome people. I love doing panels - you know how I love to talk.

It also felt great to interact with readers. Some even told me how much they liked my books! And I was invited to a couple of other events while I was there.

me and my buddy Terri-Lynne Smiles

I had an awesome weekend and I'm looking forward to more, sooner! I encourage everyone of you to go do a book event, or if you aren't published yet, go visit one (I did and it's worth it for the experience to see what it's all about) I just need to take more pictures!

I'd also like to say a big THANK YOU to those visiting me. I know tons of folks are participating in the A to Z Challenge. Good luck! You're in the homestretch!

And one last mention for my Jolissa giveaway contest...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

PS - Did anyone watch Game of Thrones? Do you think it's still George RR Martin caliber? I'm not so sure... I feel like they're rushing it and making things happen. Hmm.

#Writing is Life

There is SO MUCH going on this week! Meme Blog Hop, Release Day, and IWSG!

First I want to thank all the participants in advance for joining our MEME BLOG HOP!

Here are a few I came up with...

(All you need to make a meme is a picture and a few words of lightness or encouragement - put them together in Paint or I used Powerpoint. There's also a meme app.)

Stop by my most awesome co-hostesses - Christine Rains, C. Lee McKenzie - and those on the list below for some further wonderful wittiness!


I also hope these memes are encouraging for IWSG day! Here's my contribution...

Some say "Life's not a sprint, it's a marathon."
I say, "Life's a never-ending obstacle course!"

Does anyone else feel pressure to show others that writing isn't just a hobby? Lately I've been submitting short stories, hoping to prove my writing is "worth" something and help pay bills... But these bits and pieces take time away from my novels, which I feel I need to continue to put out there, too!

I'm also scheduling more appearances to drum up business - marketing is an incredible time drain. I've got so many different projects going on at the same time, it's hard to prioritize and can get very stressful (and makes me grouchy) Sometimes I just feel lost.

I guess the key is to concentrate on one thing at a time. I hate to break it to you, but science has proven that multi-tasking is FICTION. Our brains can only truly concentrate on one thing at a time. Though it may seem like multi-tasking, it's just doing successive things quickly.

Another way I help myself is to make deadlines. I like deadlines, they're just more concrete goals. I prioritize my stuff and set soft dates to try and get them done by.
>>Try to work on WIP 1 hour a day (finish the dang thing so I can start editing!)
>>Blog posts have their own deadlines, so I do them. And try to visit!
>>Submissions have deadlines too - but if I don't finish those, there are plenty more, so I'm working on building up a file of ready-to-submit stories.

How do you keep your head above water??


And lastly -

JOLISSA IS AVAILABLE TODAY!!

JOLISSA - An Anti-Princess Story,

with ongoing video storybook

A trouble-making maiden, a clumsy out-of-work squire, a loyal puppy, and a talking goat go on a quest - What could go wrong?

I didn't plan a big launch day or tour or anything, but I want to say a huge THANKS to Susan Gourley-Kelley and MJ Fifield for volunteering to help spread the word! We'll see how this self-publishing goes. And the next story in my Unconventional Princesses series (of course it's a series), TWO PRINCESSES, is somewhere on my extensive TO DO LIST...

Have a positive and productive week!