It's June, It's June, It's June...

 Happy Thursday!

Wow. This  is the last full week of June (next week is just Sunday-Tuesday and then we start July!)

I continue to write, and I continue to await query responses for Shifter Secrets and contemplate how to get Sugar & Frost to readers. I've started the process of going through Sugar & Frost to see where I can expand on the descriptions, etc. I'm trying to increase the word count from 77k to at least 80k. It's doable, it's just going to take time. Both Sugar & Frost and Shifter Secrets are stories I'm determined  that I will somehow get to readers. I can't say for certain how, yet, but I'm determined. I wrote them to be shared, not to keep them to myself.

UnhingedPit pitching event is happening TODAY! (Check X/Twitter and BlueSky for info). I've got the privilege of being UnhingedPit's Official Ambassador. UnhingedPit is also celebrating 2 years of unhinged fun today, so Happy Birthday / Unhinged-iversary, UnhingedPit!

As for other stories, I'm playing it by ear. I've been working on several projects, so we'll see what happens.

June also marked 60 years my parents have been married (they got married on June 10, 1966). They were high school sweethearts. Yes, they're still alive. I'm deeply grateful to them, their marriage, and commitment to God, each other, their family, friends, and community at large. They taught me a lot about what it meant to have a successful marriage, to be a wife, friend, companion, and to be a faith-filled person.

Father's Day was an ordinary day in my household (we didn't really do anything to celebrate, but that's okay, I've got something in mind; I just couldn't get it ready when I had originally intended to do so), but I'm grateful to Real Life Hero's constant support and despite ups and downs, continuing on. He's got a real sense of responsibility, which has been very, very helpful over the years. He's been my hero on more than one occasion, and my best friend.

I hope your start to the Summer has been fun and that fathers everywhere had a great Father's Day! God bless to you all.

Have A Thrillingly Terrific Thursday!

June Passing By...

 Happy Monday!

It's the last day of June and I can't believe July starts tomorrow. This month felt a bit like a whirlwind, but there were several lovely moments.

June 10th marked 59 years that my parents had been married. I didn't get to see them on that day, but I did wish them a happy anniversary. They've been such a special example and inspiration for me. (One of my best friends got married on their anniversary and when I found out I said, "You know, that's my parents' anniversary?" My friend responded: "I KNEW it was a good day to get married!").

Two of my out-of-town siblings came in for a few days on Father's Day weekend and I got to see them, as well as my sibling that lives near my parents. We had a nice weekend celebrating Father's Day. Saturday early evening we were at a Mexican restaurant and then Sunday evening had barbecue at my in-town sibling's house. It was very nice. My father is not only a father, but a grandfather, and a great-grandfather, so he's got lots of experience in the fatherhood area. It's an honor and a privilege to be one of his daughters (he has several daughters).

I've still got a few queries out on Sugar & Frost.

I'm working on several other manuscripts--one in particular that I'm almost done writing. The editing will be a process (it always is, though).

I've been enjoying Season 5 of The Chosen--I've been a fan since the early days, and I'm pleased with how well it's taken off (not that I'm super surprised, it's an incredibly well-done show--although, I will say, if you're looking for totally following word-for-word of the Bible, you're going to find out that it doesn't and that they always say to go back and read the Bible--but it's true to the main things that happened regardless of order or anything like that). It's been lovely to see Jesus portrayed as not just with his divinity, but with the whole range of humanity. It's fun to think of Him laughing and cracking jokes with the apostles and having a tender relationship with His mother.

Anyway, tomorrow starts July! Already half way through the summer (well, for Texas we'll probably have really hot weather for a bit longer than some people--and some winters it doesn't get very cold at all!) God bless to you all, and have a great rest of June.

Hope you all have a marvelously merry Monday!

June Has Arrived...

 Happy June Everyone,

June is here! Yep, it's here. May was more eventful in my real life. So, off we go:

Writer's Life Updates: 

Nothing fun to report on the query front with the YA Fantasy I've been querying. I still have a couple out.

Editing:

I've got a YA Fantasy with a Christmassy theme to it. I'm enjoying getting it polished. I hope to start querying it, soon. I'm not sure what 'soon' is, yet, though.

Writing:

WIPs (Works In Progress) that I'm writing are on hold (for the most part) while I edit.

Other stuff:

I fixed up my Mood Board for the YA Fantasy (Christmassy) story and that's up on my social media accounts (Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram).

As for real life...strap on your safety belts: it's a wild ride!

There have been several storms in my part of the world (especially in May). We're all safe, which I thank God for that. 

One particular storm did something strange (well, strange for us, it's never happened before to us!) I was working on edits. Thunderstorm blows up. I listen for a bit and decide it's not too bad and should pass over quickly. No big deal. Then BOOM! Big ole crack of thunder--seems to be right above my house. I felt myself jump. I calmed myself down, backed up my files and shut off the computer.

Later, after both my husband and eldest checked on the car, my husband came in to tell me something was up with it. What he told me baffled me, so I went out to check it out for myself. One of the headlights was on. A small headlight on one side was missing (no clue where it was--didn't see it anywhere). I got in the car and tried to start it. The brake pedal started vibrating/shaking and the engine wouldn't turn over. I tried again. Same thing. Radio came on, but nothing else was really happening. The headlight that was on wouldn't turn off. So, we locked it up, and went inside. Husband called insurance.

Everyone I've talked to has been baffled. All we can think is that lightning hit the vehicle. There were no burn marks or anything anywhere else. The side mirror's glass was hanging from a wire out of the holder, and there was some glass on the ground, but other than that, nothing you could really see. Very grateful to God that none of us were near the car or in the car when this happened.

So, I'm hopeful that June is less weird and doesn't have quite so many storms. So far, we've at least one, but it wasn't bad.

I wish all the fathers a Happy Father's Day and hope everyone has a nice June.

Have A Fabulously Fun Friday!

I Missed A May Post...And It's JUNE, Now...

 Happy Tuesday All,

Wow...I can't believe I actually forgot to post on here in May. In my defense, I thought I had, but when I came to post a June entry I realized I had missed May!

In May, my husband and I celebrated our anniversary. We've been married for well over 10 years! :-) We didn't do anything big...but we did get take out from Chili's, which was good. My husband is my Real Life Hero. The man has seen me at my best and my worst and STILL loves me, so I'd say he's a keeper. My wedding was lovely. I felt like a princess (which is cool, since my Dad sometimes calls me "princess"). We had a blast at our reception and a wonderful honeymoon on St. Croix (US Virgin Islands).

This June my parents will celebrate 57 years of marriage. I'm so happy for them!

In terms of writing...I've turned a bit of a corner so to speak. I had a brainstorming session with my long-time critique partner, author Tess St. John, which helped one of my manuscripts quite a bit. I've been able to add some pages and some ideas are coming down the pipe for the manuscript, so that's great. :-)

I read 3 books by Victoria McCombs (The Storyteller's Daughter, Woods Of Silver And Light, The Winter Charlatan--they're all part of the same series. I enjoyed them!) I've read some other books, too, that I've enjoyed, but given that I write primarily YA Fantasy and Paranormal, I thought I'd mention those 3 specifically.

I'm still hopeful on the query front, but right now I don't want to say much about it. It's a process!

I hope things are good on your end and that June is a good month for you. Take care!

Have A Tremendously Terrific Tuesday and a Joyful June!

June Has Arrived...

 Happy June Everyone!

I hope your May went well. My husband had to take 4 trips up to Springdale, Arkansas to clean out and sell his father's house, so that was a lot. He's fine now and the papers to sell the house have been signed, so that's good.

I've recently pulled up an unfinished manuscript of mine and have been reading through the 80 or 82 pages of what I had already written. I've edited what I've read so far for a preliminary edit, and think there might be something here. We'll see.

There are some new releases that have piqued my interest. I don't normally pick up mid-grade novels (although, I have read several over the course of my life) but my author friend, Tom Phillips has his debut coming out on June 7th, so I've been watching the countdown with great interest. Another author friend of mine, Cheyanne Young has a new contemporary YA, releasing, too. Plus, there always seems to be more novels releasing, too. I'm sometimes slow to get to a novel, not because I was avoiding it, but sometimes life happens.

I did read Once Upon A K-Prom by Kat Cho and enjoyed it. It was fun. It definitely reads like a K-Drama and I could picture it as one.

My parents' anniversary is in June. Over 50 years and counting for them! Also, one of my brothers, and one of my BFFs all have June anniversaries. I also have family members with birthdays in June, and a BFF with a birthday in June. So June is busy!

The Author Encounter is working on some ideas for June, July, and beyond. You'll have to check out the website. There are also replays of videos available on the Facebook page, and some replays on the YouTube Page.

Anyway, here's wishing you all a great June! Hope it's a wonderful start to the summer! If I have more news, I'll post it, otherwise, watch for my monthly posts. :-)

Have A Wonderfully Whimsical Wednesday!

June 2017 Release Cover Reveal...

Happy Thursday Darling Readers, Immortals, Humans, & all,

In June of this year, my 5th published book, Perfect Love (#4 in the Immortal Dreams series) will release. This is Hailey (Laney's best friend) and Arion's (Cupid & Psyche's son) story.

Originally, I figured more time would pass before I could write Hailey's book. I always wanted to, which is why Immortal Love ends the way it does. I was surprised when readers started asking me about it. I kept getting requests such as "You're going to write Hailey's story, right?" "Is Hailey an Immortal?"

I'd been toying with ideas, and I realized I wasn't ready to say goodbye to everybody. So, I sat down and thought about it. What resulted is a story about emotions, and relationships, rather than straight adventure or straight romance. It's about how one deals with expectations, loss, and new experiences. How Hailey deals with Laney's lies, different relationships, and meeting someone like Arion.

To answer the question, Hailey is FULLY human. No, that does NOT ruin the story, in fact, that's not a secret, nor a surprise. It's established early on in the novel that she is fully human. This plays into her and Arion's story.

You're probably asking yourself, is this a cover reveal a rundown about the novel?

So, without FURTHER ado...

I present to you the cover for Perfect Love...

I think it's gorgeous, don't you? The amazingly talented Fiona Jayde (who has made all my covers so far) is the cover artist.

Have A Thrillingly Terrific Thursday!