Happy Wednesday Everybody, Sorry it's taken me forever to update (December is half gone already!) I promise you, I haven't been sitting around twiddling my thumbs. I've actually been really busy. Yesterday I finally finished my Christmas shopping. I even made a To-Do list yesterday and put "Make To-Do List" as one of the items--partially because I've been meaning to make one, and partially to have something to cross off right away. As you can see, we finally got the tree decorated. It's so pretty! Offspring got excited about putting the tinsel on. It's always fun to get out the Christmas stuff and see things we haven't seen in a year. Unfortunately, my computer refuses to upload this picture the right way. I had flipped it so that it was vertical, but then Blogger wouldn't upload it.*Sigh*. Anyway, I promise, in real life it's NOT sideways. There's two particular ornaments on the tree that have a special meaning to me. One i...

Happy Monday Everybody, It's December, if you can believe it! I hope everyone had a great weekend. On Saturday I Christmas partied with my NWHRWA Chapter mates. Whomever did the decorations knows how to make things bright, merry, and cheerful.  Look behind the love gift bag, you'll see the very top of the present I got to keep.  We have a gift game that we do--the "white elephant" one. We didn't have too many joke presents...although someone did find a cookbook that was the source of much merriment. I ended up with a chalkboard type thing that says "The Writing On The Wall" and a box of chalk--it's really cool. I'm going to get husband to put it up on the wall...great place to jot down ideas real quick.  from L to R:  me, Christie Craig, William Simon  My chapter mates are extremely talented, encouraging, and wonderful people, and I count myself lucky and blessed to be among them. The two chapter mates / publishe...

Happy Friday All, To quote Mater from Cars and Cars 2 movies, "Dadgum!" It's been a long time since I've updated. I'm so sorry! It's been crazy around here and I've been saving my writing inspiration for my WIP. Bear with me...there's a TON of updates... One of my WIPs is almost done. I'm about two-thirds of the way through with it and hoping to very soon start editing it and sending it to my Illustrious and Awesome critique partner, Tess St. John. My awesome chapter mates have been busily releasing books, too. Carla Rossi released onto Amazon Kindle , Dr. Noah And The Sugar Plum Fairy , an Inspirational Romance that looks cute and fun. I don't have a Kindle, so hopefully it gets released in other formats, soon. Terri Molina has been offering a freebie on her House Of Cards , available on Amazon Kindle . I believe, today is the LAST day to get it! I'll find out if she's going to extend it, but as far as I know today is...

Happy Monday All, Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans out there! My grandfather served in WWII, and I have a cousin and a nephew who served in the Marines. So thank you to all our Veterans, for your sacrifice and service to our country. Well, Thanksgiving is a little over a week away (amazing how fast Fall is going!) Do you have any special plans for Turkey Day? The family and I will be at my parents' house. Who else is joining us, I don't know. My parents are great cooks and bakers so I know it'll be good. We'll probably bring something--what I don't know, yet.  So what do you do to mark the day? Have A Marvelous Monday!

Happy Friday All, So much to tell! First of all, if you haven't read my Facebook page, then here's my big news:   Surreal has been contracted by a publisher! It's so awesome! I'm not the only one with good news, either. My chapter mate, and talented author, Janet Nash, just had her novel, Powerless Consent , released through Soul Mate Publishing . It's available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well. Also, if you're interested in Fantasy, check out Raven Raye's recent release (released in October), Broken Prophecy . It's also Soul Mate Publishing release. You can find it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble . So many exciting things going on! Make sure you stay tuned...either on my Facebook Page or on here! Look me up on Twitter as well (@WriteByBethany). Have A Fabulously Fun-Filled Friday!

Happy Tuesday All, It's voting day here in the US of A, so all of those who are eligible have a civic duty to exercise our right to vote. Which, is something I will (or depending on when you, my readers read this post and when I get to my designated voting area) or have done. Today Laura Childs' Stake & Eggs is released, which I reviewed yesterday . This past NWHRWA meeting I've learned some pretty awesome things about next year's Lone Star Conference. We are fortunate to be able to have Donald Maass of the Donald Maass Literary Agency come and be our keynote speaker. We're also going to have an agent from Larsen Pomada Literary Agents , and Marisal Lyon Literary Agency  and who knows what other awesome things will be in store by the time the date of the conference rolls around. The date of the conference is on October 5, 2013--so you can start planning now. It's apple cider season (Fall)! I've been enjoying the tasty treat. I'll be glad ...

Happy Monday All, Oh my goodness! It's been so long since I updated, and I hope you all will accept my apologies. There is much to discuss, and I hope to pour it out this week and in the coming weeks. But first and foremost, I have a special treat for you all...an official blog review. Today's morsel is from mystery author, Laura Childs' newest Cackleberry Club Mystery ... Eggs aren't the only things being whipped up in the Midwest. While Suzanne, Petra, and Toni busily prepare for a meeting with the a banker in their little town of Kindred, murder is being cooked up in the snowy banks behind the Cackleberry Club Diner. One minute the three women hear snowmobiles, the next minute the wintry evening is still and silent. Feeling curious, Suzanne duns warm gear to head out only to find said banker decapitated from a wire stretched out across the very path his snowmobile was traveling. Sure, said banker wasn't the most liked member ...

Happy Tuesday All, If you're anything like me, you're a hopeless romantic. Although, I suppose because I'm married to my own personal hero, people could  argue I'm not really hopeless, so I guess I could amend the phrase and say I'm hopelessly romantic. Monday night one of the channels on TV was showing the movie, Only You starring Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. I've seen it before, but it's been awhile. I missed most of it, but I did get to see the scene where Robert Downey Jr. as Peter, is holding onto the  edge of a yacht declaring his love to Marisa Tomei's character, Faith. Gotta love seeing a guy yelling out "I'm crazy about you! You're going to miss me!" These type of movies and scenes are part of what inspires me as a writer. I'm a huge fan of fairy tales, and in a way Only You and some of the other romantic movies out there are types of fairy tales. I love stuff like it. I know, I'm so mushy. What r...

Happy Wednesday All, Whew! Things have been extremely busy on my end (but mostly GOOD busy). Monday was my birthday, and it was a wonderful birthday--thank you to everyone who wished me Happy Birthday. I truly appreciated the thoughtfulness! Before I launch into talking about the Lone Star Conference, I want to tell you I did a stupid thing. I forgot my camera! Can you believe it? I was so bummed. So unfortunately, I don't have pictures (color me sad) but others had photos and I have many witnesses to say I was, in fact, there. Hopefully the next time I go to the Lone Star Conference I'll remember a camera. So here's a run-down of my experience... Friday was the Meet & Greet party at the 1st V.P. of my chapter's house. As always, Stacey is a wonderful hostess (her husband minion-ed with the best of them) and it had good food, good company, and good fun. A bunch of us gave James Scott Bell a tutorial on how to talk like a Texan, and he picked up very quick...

Happy Wednesday All, (No matter what the date tab says, this post is meant for Wednesday). I can hardly believe it...not counting today, there are TWO days left until the Lone Star Conference. This is my third year going, and I'll be entering my fourth year as a member of the NWHRWA. This group is an incredible group of men and women. I'm very lucky and blessed to be a member and to be amid so many talented writers. I know travel can be a pain (especially if you live out of state, or even out of the country) but folks, these people are so hospitable and kind. If you're a writer, I cannot stress enough how important that is. It's also why I invite my fellow authors to this Conference every year. Now that I've gotten the sentimentality out and told you how truly awesome the NWHRWA & the Lone Star Conference is, let me move on to what's kept me from the blog... I have been reading like a mad fool, my dear readers. My cousin got me interested in an a...

Happy Friday One And All, I'm having a pretty good day so far. The weather is mild, something I was worried about is getting resolved, I've proven to myself I could do something I was sure I wasn't going to be able to do (although that last one has me eating crow, which isn't my favorite thing, but oh well). Today's a short post. I asked this question on Twitter (which, by the way, if you don't have an account, get one and you can see all my updates that sometimes don't make it to my blog by following me at @WriteByBethany--also, my Twitter Feed is in the margin of this blog) and all the other awesome authors I follow. Like I was saying... I asked this on Twitter, and I'll post it here: What's your sweet treat weakness?  Mine is often chocolate or cookies (sometimes candy). What's yours? Have A Fun-Filled Friday! FYI:  NEXT weekend is the NWHRWA Lone Star Writers' Conference...all you writers...have YOU registered? Hope so :-)...

Happy Tuesday All, Hope everyone got a chance to read the review I posted yesterday . Now, here's for the 2nd book review I have this week for you: Welcome back to Shadowfalls! Things are busy what with the camp being turned into a school...new students, and teachers...and a ghost. It's the ghost that has Kylie all discombobulated...okay maybe not just the ghost, because let's face it, finding out she was a ---- (I'm leaving that blank for those who haven't read Taken At Dusk , or who haven't finished it).  is really something... and it's all well and good to know what you are, but what is the extent of her powers? Her limitations? Never mind the fact that the ghost has ---'s face (again, leaving that blank for those who haven't read or finished Taken At Dusk , because it's important!) If it wasn't for that, the ghost would just be another ghost in a long line of ones that keep showing up wanting Kylie's help. But beyond that,...

Happy Monday All, This week is special because there are TWO official book reviews. Here's today's treat: Mardis Gras season in the Big Easy is a time of fun and revelry. At least, it is until television reporter, Kimber Breeze ends up hanging from the Hotel Tremaine's balcony where she had been interviewing local business owners. Carmela Bertrand, owner of Memory Mine is the first to find Kimber. Calling her detective boyfriend, Carmela tries to help with crowd control, but with folks tripping over each other to escape the scene, it's near impossible. Carmela thinks Raleigh, Kimber's camera man might have caught something on tape, however, when she gets the DVD all it reveals is someone dressed as the clown character in an opera. To make things even more confusing, Carmela begins receiving strange post cards signed by the dead Kimber Breeze. Who's behind the murder and the post cards? Is it Kimber's boyfriend, the business man? Is it the weird...

Happy Thursday All, Well, I'm settling back into my usual daily routines since being away all weekend for my grandfather's memorial. Of course, no routine would be complete without some sort of twist, right? Mine happens to be allergies! At least they seem to be getting better, for which I do thank God. My current WIP, (no, I can't talk about it, sorry. It's easier for me to write when not too many people know very much about what I'm writing. I don't know why), is coming along. A little slowly, but I'm starting to get a tiny piece of the passion I've been missing back. I really like this story, and the way it's being told. I have a few details to tweak and stuff, but I'll do that when I start editing. Right now, I'm focused on getting the story out of my head and onto written format. Anyway...today I wanted to talk about obsessions...particularly book obsessions, which, for me, there are many, but I'm going to talk about my newe...

Happy Tuesday All, I took a weekend trip up North for my Grandfather's memorial. It was a lovely ceremony, stories shared, tears shed, but also some laughter at the funny things my grandfather said or did. He was a World War II veteran, so we were blessed to have an Honor Guard there that gave a gun salute and presented a flag to my step-grandma. One of my brothers plays the Scottish Bagpipes, so he played TAPS on the bagpipes while in a kilt, with a sporran, and the shoes (called gillybroughs--I'm not sure of the spelling, but that's what it sounds like). All my siblings were there, so that was wonderful, because we haven't all been in one place in several years (there's a lot of us) and I got to catch up with them and relatives I haven't seen in a number of years. Sunday I returned, and did some unpacking and settling in. Monday I had a headache and my stomach decided to not be completely happy, so I spent the day in bed reading a book--which I also fi...

Happy Tuesday All, Today we remember and pray for those involved in the tragedy of 9/11, and we also remember all the brave men and women who defend the USA. May God bless them and be with them. This year September is bringing weather to the South of the promise of Fall. It's not as cool as I'd prefer, yet, but it's cooler. One of the little trees in my backyard has already got some red leaves on it (pretty!) and another one is showing signs of Fall. Fall and Winter are my favorite seasons. What's yours? Before I forget... There's releases coming right around the corner: Sophie Jordan's 3rd book in her YA series, Hidden , is out TODAY! Kerrelyn Sparks has the re-release of her Historical under the title The Forbidden Lady (out on September 25, 2012). Also, her next Love At Stake book , Wild About You will be out on November 27, 2012. C.C. Hunter's newest installment in her Shadowfalls series, Whispers At Moonrise will release on O...

Happy Monday All, I am very sorry for my long absence. There's been so much going on: In late August my grandfather died. It's hard to say goodbye to him, but he lead a long and wonderful life. I'll be attending his graveside memorial service later this month--so there's been some prep work surrounding that. I've been gearing up for a couple of blog book reviews that are coming around October. I'm looking forward to posting them, too! I've also been writing. I sent the pages I've written of Conjure A Man to my critique partner because I wanted her input. While she's been reading the pages, I've been working on another story of mine. It's coming okay and I'm thinking about some of my other stories that are waiting on the sidelines for me to get to them. Also, I'm gearing up for my RWA chapter's annual conference--the Lone Star Conference  (the Northwest Houston RWA), which is being held on October 13, 2012 in Houston, Te...

Happy Tuesday Everybody, I know there's been a lot of silence on here lately. I've had some computer and blog trouble, so I put off posting for awhile so I could maybe determine the reasons for all the problems (I'm still working on that). There's also been a lot happening in my life (both good and not-so-good) so I've been pretty busy. I'm doing okay, though. Today I have a treat for you--something I haven't done in awhile--an official blog book review! (P.S. I'm hoping to post book cover art on here, soon, there's a couple of things have to confirm before I can do that). So let's get a move on this: Christie Craig  brings us back to Texas, where ex-cons turned exonerated citizens & P.I.s, Tyler, Dallas, and Austin hang out in their office, Only In Texas, ready and willing to right wrongs. Book 2 of the Hotter In Texas series , Blame It On Texas is what you’d expect from a Christie Craig novel--fun, romance, and laughter. Zoe Adam...

Happy Tuesday All, I'm re-reading Beth Fantasky's Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side and gearing up to work on Conjure A Man (my WIP--Work In Progress). The other night I finished reading Tracy Deebs' Tempest Rising . I ended up really liking it. I realize since it was published last year, it's not exactly a new YA novel, but it was new to me because I hadn't known about it or read it. It's chalk full of sea mythical creatures. There's a big battle with a blood-sucking octopus type creature, a power-hungry sea witch, and a mermaid who wants to stick to her human side. I found it a fun read and plan to read the sequel, Tempest Unleashed , which is out. I'm doing all this while I wait for August 15th to arrive. Why August 15th? Well, aside from some real-life things going on, that's the day Shanna Swendson's Much Ado About Magic will be released. I've been waiting at least 2 years or more for this book! It's book 5 i...

Happy Friday All, It's the end of another week and my allergies have decided to act up. So, I'm waiting on a call back from my doc's office to see what they'll recommend I take (I had a question about an over-the-counter med). Hopefully it won't get any worse; I just got over having one thing or another not that long ago. Yesterday I read most of the day. I finished up Joy Preble's YA novel, Haunted (book 2 in her series) and then I went ahead and worked on Katie McGarry's YA novel, Pushing The Limits . Joy Preble's books use some of the Romanov story and Russian folklore. It's set in contemporary times, full of magic, mysteries, and a little bit of something for everyone. The first in the series is Dreaming Anastasia , which I really enjoyed. Haunted is book 2 and Anastasia Forever should be available, soon. (Joy told me it comes out, I think on August 7th). I'm hoping Anne stays with Ethan! Katie McGarry's Pushing The Limits i...

Happy Wednesday All, Today Katie McGarry's Pushing The Limits is available on e-reader! I got mine. I'm looking forward to reading it. Shanna Swendson's book 5, Much Ado About Magic , is available for preorder from Amazon . Right now I don't have any information about it being available for preorder for Nook anytime soon. When I find that out, I'll let you know. It's due to release in e-book form on August 15, 2012. RWA Nationals just ended and several of my chaptermates have gone. They seem to have come back energized and excited. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to attend Nationals. However, there is my chapter's October Conference! All writers welcome. For more information, click here . It should be a lot of fun! Anyway, that's all I have off the top of my head (for now) :-) Have A Wonderful Wenesday!

Happy Tuesday All, Today I want to draw your attention to debut author, Katie McGarry. I met Katie a couple of years ago through the NWHRWA's Lone Star Contest when I was the YA Category Chair. Katie's story intrigued me, and I went on to hope it would do well in the contest. She ended up being a first place finalist for the YA category. Talking to her on the phone to alert her she was a winner was a joy. She was sweet, humble, and her excitement was contagious. She went on to tell me she had just gotten an agent and I couldn't have been happier for her. Now, around 2 years later, I celebrate with Katie the release of her YA novel, Pushing The Limits . I can't wait to read this story. I've been curious about it, let me tell you. If you all have a chance, stop by her page , or look her up on Twitter. I also hope you all will be as curious as I am to read this book! So, congratulations, Katie McGarry! Hope your writing career is a wonderful, exciting adv...

Happy Monday All, Whew! This summer has proven to be more eventful than I planned. Offspring was supposed to be in swim lessons for 2 weeks (4 days each week). Unfortunately, even the best laid plans go awry at times. The first week, offspring got sick after the second day of lessons (I had my own health problems that week, too). He had to miss 2 days (well, they canceled the second day due to weather issues, but he would've missed anyway due to his health). The second week I started off with a sinus infection (no problem, I got antibiotics), except Tuesday afternoon I felt foul, then in the evening/night ended up sick! I had to go off the antibiotics, and lay in bed for 2 days. Friday I finally started getting my energy back. Then Saturday I started a new antibiotic, which I finally get to finish today. This past week was pretty good, though. We made it to a nephew's birthday party, and I got some writing done on my WIP, and an idea for another story (I've got severa...

Happy Tuesday All, Life doesn't seem to slow down, does it? I was so busy in June that I forgot to send a birthday card out to one of my nieces! So, that's going out within the next day or two (definitely this week we're going to get it mailed; probably put it in the box on Thursday, since I believe, on the 4th mail isn't picked up or delivered). This month has its own set of things going on, but hopefully won't be as hectic as last month. Girls' Night Out was awesome. We had a blast...although, I'm sure the other people in the hotel probably wished we weren't giggling so loud. But, I'm telling you, there was some hailirious moments. One of my friends was making the rest of us laugh so hard that another one of the ladies had to sit down! I read a short story I had written especially for the occasion, and we all took a trip down memory lane. It was a lot of fun, and great to catch up with all of them. We're thinking that some time when we go...