What is the craziest thing YOU plan to do this year? One thing I like about New Year’s is how it causes us to stop, take a step back, and look at our lives from a new perspective. What do we like? What do we want to change? What great accomplishment do we want to achieve?
In 2018, I climbed the Grand Teton in Wyoming. Climbing that peak was one of the greatest moments of my life. Happy New Year!
p.s. New Years Resolution – clean and organize all my computer files, cause I can’t find the picture from the summit this morning, and I have to get back to work!
I know that most people cringe at the mention of fruitcake. I’ve never tried to bake it myself, but I actually remember my grandma making it during the holidays. I recall it being quite good. But you know, sometimes the magic doesn’t happen if you try to recreate it.
When I was a little kid, my mom had a collection of beads. They were bright and sparkly, and the minute the Christmas season rolled around, I would take a needle and thread and start stringing beads. What pattern could you make? Who had the longest string? It was very uncool if you acted like a baby and tossed them on in random order. When they were finished, we took the strings and hung them on our Christmas tree. I’m hoping to have a little down time during the next few days to write. I’m deep in the middle of a spectacular sequel to Forgotten Rebellion. Only one person (besides me) has read it so far, but she loved it. I hope to have more to share soon. Have a wonderful holiday season!
How did your week go? By Saturday afternoon, when I finally got a moment to write, I sat down in the comfy chair with my cozy blanket. I wrote one line on the top of the page and then went to sleep with the pen in my hand. Sometimes you just need a break.
I’ve never seen a bird with such a grumpy expression! This owl is definitely throwing out some serious skudgies. I feel like he is just… irritated. I guess I should confess, I have (hopefully rare) moments when I feel like this. You look out at the world and ask, “seriously?” When this picture came up as my desktop wallpaper today, it made me laugh.
As I always say, “Sometimes things go really well. But then, there are those OTHER times…” During this season of rushing, overscheduling and communing with loved ones who we hopefully get along with, I wish you the best! Just never let anyone start talking about politics during family events. Instead, enjoy the white elephants, ugly sweaters and wassail. p.s. If you’d like to offer your opinion on proper spelling of “skudgies”, I’m open. Somehow, it’s often heard verbally, but I’ve never seen it in print before.
Somehow, I feel just a little more official today. One of my readers sent this picture of a shelf from her local library. I know I’m a book nerd, but it’s really exciting to have more people pick up my book. It’s been a busy week, but somehow, I’ve sneaked in time for reading.
Full disclosure: I’ve been listening to one audio book, reading a completely different one on my kindle, and going back and forth between two of my own writing projects this week. Maybe I need to focus more! I have my first draft of the sequel to Forgotten Rebellion, and another (unrelated) stand-alone book which is nearly ready for a trip to the editor.
Maybe I’m nuts to work like that, but it actually helps my process to have more than one project at a time. Swapping them allows me to rest between drafts and come back with fresh eyes. I will have some material as soon as possible!
In the meantime, I’m setting up my Shopify store so you can buy ebooks without going through Amazon. Don’t worry, I’ll have more inventory soon!
During the first big snowstorm of the season, I went snowshoeing. That might sound crazy, but I just can’t help it. It’s like writing for me. I just do it. The snow wasn’t so bad on my way up, but then I turned around and realized the wind was blasting snow right into my face. I was totally covered with snow! Oh well, maybe I built character, and at least I was going downhill.
I guess it’s not surprising that everything is easier with the wind at your back. But sometimes I take the extra boost for granted. Until I turn around.
Happy reading this week. If I didn’t have to work, I would have spent all week writing. I’ve been totally carried away by wicked sorcerers, cursed princesses, and a few carnivorous lizards. Welcome to MY imagination. What’s running through yours?
I really enjoyed your response to my question about Story Rage! As readers, we have many of the same complaints, and pet peeves. We just want to enjoy a good story. Don’t mislead us, and don’t make us ask questions and never give us the answers! Don’t take a whole book to set up for the next book, etc. I did my first hike of the season with fresh snow on the ground. This is Utah, everyone is making sure their skis are waxed and tuned. I have a new pair of snowshoes to try out. I think its very important to have outdoor fun all year round. What do you do for outdoor fun when it’s cold?
Have you ever had STORY RAGE? You’re reading along, happy in the world the author has created, until you get to a point in the story and something bothers you. And you’re UNHAPPY. Years ago, I read a fantasy where the author killed off every single character except for the leading man (banished) and the leading lady (captured by the enemy). Every one else was slaughtered. And I do mean, everyone else. I was super mad at the end of that book! I felt like she was just wiping the slate clean and that she didn’t address the real cost of the events. And also, what is the real point of the story if only two people survived it? So, I’m asking you. What makes you MAD in a story? Unsatisfying endings? Stories that run on without ever giving you a satisfactory conclusion? What causes you to not like a story? I want to know for two reasons. First, I’m wildly curious about what gets to other people. Second, I’d like to know what NOT to do in my writing.
I hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends. We spent the day with family, and many of them are much better cooks than I am. Some family member once claimed that they hated yams, no matter how they were prepared, so my brother wrapped spears of yam in prosciutto and cooked them till crispy. Not to reveal any trade secrets, but they are amazing! And please throw out the boxed stuffing. We had stuffing made from scratch with sausage, herbs and mushrooms. Oh, sorry, I started to drool a little just then. I think all food should have mushrooms in it. They are a food group.
Anyway, I’ve been working for weeks to gather all the awesome Black Friday promotions I could get my hands on. So, just for you, hundreds of on-sale books! I am so excited to have all of my books on sale for 99¢. Now is the time to read them!
The choice lay before him. Either he could become a new man and help her, or he could destroy her to win a kingdom.
She was gone. Allia was a prisoner, and completely beyond his reach. All the pain she suffered was his fault. From the beginning, he’d wanted nothing more than to protect her. Instead, he’d destroyed her life. He needed to find a way to help her.
She couldn’t see anything except his dark eyes. What kind of man refused to show his face? Either way it didn’t matter. Until she found out who was trying to kill her, he was her only chance of survival.
