And We're Back (For Now)...

Hello All,

I'm posting this a day early (consider this my post for Monday,Dec. 28th), but just to alert to a few things:

1. On the right hand margin are some updates... A. quotes from a few of my stories and B. my writing New Year's Resolutions

2. I'll probably be blogging until Thursday, then take a break for the weekend since my husband has 3 days off. (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

Also, I have been doing some writing...on a work in progress (a Christmas novel I'm working on). I've done a bit of work on Conjure A Man and another story that's still sketching itself out.

Reading has been of major importance, too. For Christmas I got several new books:

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce (who is female, by the way)

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis & John Eldredge

On Writing by Stephen King.

I already have heard how great On Writing is, and I've been anxious to read it. I haven't read it, yet, but I'm going to.

Also--calling all anime who are also Shakespeare fans: check out the Gonzo & Fanimation anime, Romeo X Juliet AWESOME! My husband got me the first set for Christmas and I'm planning on ordering the second set soon! Total addict. It doesn't stick strictly with the original Romeo & Juliet story, but the names are there, the whole forbidden love thing is there, and they switch on and off between Shakespearean and Modern way of talking. I was sitting there quoting from Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet while watching a few of the episodes. My husband couldn't believe how fast I went through the 12 episodes, but I'm telling you. When I get into something it's rare for me to not follow it all the way to the end (believe me, I'm going to follow this all the way to the end...I like it that much).

I finished the Pearce and Selfors books and I've started the Curtis & Eldredge book.

Here's info on the 2 I've finished:

Coffeehouse Angel was fun. It played with an idea I absolutely have always liked (from playing with it in my head, to reading a Danielle Steel novel, to working on one of my works in progress)...that is...an angel falling in love with a human. Specifically, a male angel falling in love with a female angel. This book was also great because it had a whole thing about the main character figuring out her strengths and growing and becoming more of who she was. And those of you who are hopeless romantics like me, won't be disappointed with the end.

As You Wish was an idea I don't see in novels too often. A genie (a jinn, specifically) comes to grant a girl's request, only to fall in love with her. Interesting things happen, and the girl discovers what she really wants is different than what she originally thought. (mentions of Shakespeare and Grease come into play and Shakespearean fans will appreciate that the girl's name is Viola!) I loved it.

Actually I loved both books. Suzanne Selfors has not disappointed. I've read Saving Juliet (own it) and it was awesome and so was Coffeehouse Angel.

Jackson Pearce was a new author for me, and totally didn't disappoint. I'll be interested to see what she does with her twist on the whole Little Red Riding Hood. Pearce's story is titled: Sisters Red. I wish she was writing a sequel to As You Wish, but so far, that's not happening (according to her website).

So if you're looking for new reads (I believe these are YA, by the way) and are a hopeless romantic, I definitely give these two my recommendation.

On another note, still writing away...and Surreal is patiently waiting for me to finish cutting down the word count so I can do the other edits that need attention. So, I've got several things going.

I had a very nice Christmas, by the way :-)

Other than that, it's been a nice holiday and I enjoyed seeing my younger brother and his fiancee who came to town, and met their very small dog. (I feel bad for one of my sisters and her husband and their kids because they have this stomach bug and it sounds yucky and miserable. I hope they get well very soon and I hope that me, my husband and my son don't get it).

I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday...the New Year will be upon us soon!

Have A Marvelous Monday!

Get Thee A Nom De Plume!

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