What could be more fun than mixing holiday traditions with our fantasy favorites? So, here you go! I hope your Christmas was fun!
Holidays and LOTR
Holidays = fruitcake and reading
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!
The end… at least, the end of the week.
Totally done for now.
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.
One disgruntled owl…
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.
Walking Against the Wind
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?
Celebrating Black Friday!
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.
Imagination Gone Wild
Does your imagination ever run wild? New worlds, people, quests, giant spiders, or carnivorous lizards? ME TOO! All last week, while I was working hard at my day job, getting our December magazine issues off to print, I was wishing for more time to write. I think I’ll let the entire cast of my new story be chased by the vicious lizards, not all at once, of course, just in a moment of weakness… What do you think?
What do you daydream about when you have a quiet moment? I’ve come to realize that my flights of fancy are more involved than some people’s. I’ve been working on getting everything ready for a big book sale for Black Friday. I’ve never been one to get up at 4am and stand in line to shop, but stocking up on a giant pile of great reading – that’s right up my alley!
I’ve left my natural habitat…
| I realized something important during this recent trip to the mall with my daughters. The mall is NOT my natural habitat!! I’m better off out in the mountains. Second, I realized I was old, darn it. But that’s another story. Either way, I had a wonderful time with my girls. And, I know you’re wondering, but NO, I didn’t buy that sweater. I can sense how disappointed you are. Maybe if I go back it will still be there? If you haven’t had a chance to read Forgotten Rebellion, there’s still time! The early reviews have been great! You can pick up a copy from my Shopify Store! |
Why we need fantasy so much…
During this busy week, I was thinking about why I love the Fantasy Genre so much. I feel like we need it. In the real world, sometimes we’re not brave, strong, or beautiful. Sometimes we feel alone or beaten down by life, or that the happy ending is never going to happen.
In the real world, there is no Fairy Godmother to intervene if life isn’t going our way. Reading is a temporary break from the battle. In fiction, a happy ending reminds us that if real-life times are tough, they can get better.
I’m wishing for ALL the happy endings.
In Forgotten Rebellion, I wrote Princess Tahlea making a heartbreaking choice. She was faced with giving up the man she loved in order to save her kingdom.
Book Launch Day!
It’s finally here. Forgotten Rebellion is finished, available, and the first few reviews are amazing. It’s ready for you to read!
