I have to hurry up and enjoy my last couple weeks of freedom! Since my summer vacay is winding down, I'm getting the most out of it by meeting friends for lunch, shopping, and writing/editing my boo-tay off! -- all the things I never have time for during the school year. And with the aspirations I'm hoping to undertake, I may not get a summer off again... I'll elucidate more if it comes to fruition. (Don't you just love big words?? 😆)
A big THANK YOU to my reading volunteers. I just sent off CONDUCTION to them and can't wait to gobble up their feedback. I also have two events coming up that I'm super excited to do. It's about darn time!
Not much more to add, just plugging away to get ready for what's ahead and hope I'm prepared for any sudden surprises. But I do have one last special announcement...
The Writers Chat is up and running! After getting some feedback, we are chatting again. We need connections and a safe place to share ideas, speak our minds, and get encouragement. Here are the deets:
TUESDAYS, 7:30 pm (EST)
on a private Discord Channel (very easy to join and use w/o worries)
Well, it's full-on summer, and you know what that means...
Hot fun in the sun! And we get to go back out and enjoy it. At least I hope you can where you are. I'm going to ignore all the nastiness in the world because I don't like to get into that here. This is a place for encouraging each other, spreading good news, and ranting about writing ONLY. So Happy July IWSG Day!
Summer is my time to WRITE. I don't get to devote much time to writing while I'm teaching, planning, and grading papers during the school year, so I go nuts in the summer. I'm very happy that I got to finish a couple of rounds of edits on CONDUCTION, Pop Travel #4 with a super devious cliff hanger at the end. I've sent it to my go-to CP, but I could use a couple more sets of eyes, so if you're interested in BETA READING it, let me know. So excited!
I also hope to work on the next BEAST WORLD book 4. To keep it MG, Gabe's little sister is starring in the next three books. What do you think of the title: TWINKLE STINKLE?? hahaha. Plus, I'd like to go back to my Christian YA novel - inspiration comes in spurts for that one and I really have to feel it to get back into it...
What are you working on?
Are you staying MOTIVATED in this HEAT??
I also get to READ more in the summer -- YAY! Here are two stories I was able to finish and review lickety split when summer hit:
For too long, Lavinia Kelly has been going through the motions. Her family knows why, but it’s nothing she wants to discuss.
Then in strolls Llewellyn Weiss who has a few secrets of his own. Though she can’t deny the attraction, she’s determined to do just that, and it’ll take a lot more than witty banter and a flawless set of abs to change her mind.
But when the secrets are inevitably exposed, Lavinia is forced to deal with the catastrophe that ensues, including her own devastating past. Nothing will ever be the same again...
My Review:
This is not your typical romance novel. It delves deeper into all the complex relationships involved when two people connect--and though things start with hot attraction, there's always history to deal with. It's full of emotion and exciting twists!
LIFT OFF
by Tyrean Martinson
A spaceship in disguise,
an Earth girl searching for a sense of home,
and a Thousand Years’ War between alien races
all collide on a summer afternoon.
My Review: This was a great teenage space adventure with vivid world building and tons of action. Logical Amaya Is thrust into a conflict between antagonistic aliens who have to find a way to work together if they all want to survive. And Amaya is the key to it all.
Lastly, I have some good news to share...
I had the opportunity to offer my take on RESEARCH for Gail Baugniet's blog (Mon 7/5) -- and offered to review POP TRAVEL for me (Wed 7/7). Always great to share advice and get a solid review! Yay!
And another fun project I had time for... To spread the word about DARK MATTER's exciting stories, we put together a book trailer. Check it out!
Personally, I love how each author has such a different take on Dark Matter. And you can see some of their styles shine through in their video/audio contributions.
(WHAT A DEAL: If anyone would like me to crank out a book trailer for you, we might be able to work out a trade!)
And.... I'm already bored. JK! I've reorganized my office, tackled a mountain of neglected laundry, and gotten a bunch of editing done on my next Pop Travel--CONDUCTION. I'm still woefully several thousand words short of my goal, but it's getting there... It's only been a week!
And my question to you this month - As the world has morphed and we are free to roam about again...
What has changed for you?
Back when things were normal, we went out to eat, went to ball games, movies, shopping, traveled -- all of which were severely cut back. In my neck of the world, we gradually started back last summer and praise be, we had in-person school the entire year--the kids were awesome about all the limitations and precautions. Now that we can do more, I feel like a prairie dog poking its head out to see if it's safe. It looks clear to me, and I've been scampering all over, without my mask! I'm superwoman, you know--vaccinated AND had the stupid virus.
what I think I look like to the public... (love Avril Lavine!)
And I can't stop smiling at all the wonderful strangers who probably think I'm CRAZY. More like everyone has been Stir-Crazy and ready to get out of the house. I just want to hug Everyone!
It's recovery time. We need to let the crazy loose and get it out of our system, then we can return to a semblance of normal. It's a period of catharsis. And I can't wait to get out there and see and do more. Especially my in-person event this month!
