Happy Thursday and February! I decided to take a little longer to write my monthly blog post. It was just as well since things were crazy last month with illness sweeping through my house. (Every member of the Averie household has had some illness within the last 2 months--including Averie Cat). So, we're hoping to be healthier this month (although I'm having some allergy issues). I continue working on things for Sugar & Frost and when I can, I'll let you all know what's going on (no, I don't have a contract with an agent and/or publisher, yet, but some things have happened, but I'm not ready to mention them publicly, yet). We had the dubious honor of replacing our water heater recently, but the service person put it on such a high temperature that hot water was scalding! We had to adjust the hot water for various things and then when my husband came home he went up and adjusted it so hot water wouldn't be quite so blistering. Once I'm in a place wh...

  Happy August Everyone! Wow...July went by faster than I expected. Between illness in the family (and again near the end of July and beginning of August), everything feels almost like a blur. I continue writing and querying between all the other real life stuff that has claimed my attention. Life doesn't slow down and neither do the demands of motherhood. I'm ready for all of this to settle down. I turn to my Catholic Christian faith a lot, which has been a source of comfort and help. I've got several WIPs (Works In Progress). I'm hoping to continue with Greek gods and goddesses--but one I'm working on is NOT part of my Immortal Dreams series. I also have some other things in play--fairies/Fae, maybe mermaids? With me, you just never know! The Author Encounter is taking this a bit slower this year--my business partner, Nan Jenkins, is working on her MBA, so we've pulled back on some of the events for this year, but looking to do some of our usual ones in the F...

Happy Friday All, Coming up with the nickname for my ailment and author Stacy Hoff's inspiring blog post , gave me the urge to write this post. So thanks, Stacy! The Death-Ray Sinus Infection hit my household. Well, me. It started last Friday with dry, sore throat. Okay, whatever, we ran the heater, I often feel that way with the heater on. Saturday I feel like crap--like pulled through the mud crap. Sunday I feel better. Monday I'm so-so. Tuesday fever hit me, and I went to the doctor. I got an antibiotic and started on it right away. Wednesday I felt slightly better. Thursday, fever went up again. Now it's Friday. I feel crappy. Yep, it's the Death-Ray Sinus Infection. My poor body feels like an 18-wheeler dragged it down through the mud, across a busy freeway, down the "Cliffs of Insanity" ( The Princess Bride reference) and through the swamp of eternal coughing and it's weak and tired. Husband, being the super-hero he is, is doing his best t...

Happy Tuesday All, Strep throat decided to visit my house. Offspring has it, but he's doing well. He's on antibiotics. I've got a touch of it or something like it. So I'm on antibiotics, too. I'm tired, but other than sore throat, doing okay. Revisions continue on Immortal Dreams Book 1:  Dream Weaver . We'll see what happens with that. Started Book 2 of the series, but I won't reveal the title right now. Working on writing book 2 in the Third Realm books. All's Fair In Love & Lion is the first one. The second will follow Loralyn Xavier and is currently titled Out Of The Flames . Once that's all set, we'll see what happens next.  In the right hand margin there's options to subscribe to this blog, and to also sign up to receive my Newsletter. To keep up with what I'm doing, be sure to add your name. (I'm also on Facebook and Twitter ).  There's also a link to my official website in the margin, too. Currently rea...

Happy 2013 Everyone! Welcome back! New year, fresh start, and all that fun jazz.  Kleenex for all the runny/ sniffly noses!  I hope that so far 2013 is treating you right, although I understand a few folks out there have been fighting off icky illness stuff, and my thoughts and prayers are with them. Offspring has sinus infection, so I feel your pain. I've had allergies (again), but I'm doing all right otherwise (thank you, God!) My Holidays are not over, yet. The Christmas Season ends on Epiphany, so my decorations are staying up through January 6th. I know some folks go back to work or have their teen aged able-bodied children help them take stuff down while they're at home, but in general , I beg of you, please leave those decorations up through January 6th, if you possibly can! We rush through things at such a great rate these days, taking time to be grateful and to count our blessings is important. As a Christian, it's a good reminder to me that ...

Happy Monday All, Golly! That is one mid-week through weekend I do not hope to repeat. My family came down with a stomach bug (seemed like some kind of stomach flu) and I don't wish it on anyone. We're doing much better, and I'm  working on getting back to 100 percent feeling like my well self instead of my sick self, but I'm much better than I was. I hope the rest of you have been staying well. Sunday was my weekly watching of Once Upon A Time and the theme was Red Riding Hood , which was pretty interesting in and of itself, but the night before my husband and I had watched the movie of Red Riding Hood that came out awhile back, so it feels like I had a very Red Riding Hood weekend. So in the spirit of that, I thought I'd also mention another retelling, in the form of a YA novel, called Scarlet Moon by  Debbie Viguié  which I have read more than once. It's a great retelling. Very inspiring and creative. In the TV show it played with the id...

Happy Thursday All, I'm not posting much these past couple of days (not sure about Friday, yet), the reason is I caught the illness offspring had. I'm doing better today--slowly improving and hoping to add more food. It's some sort of viral stomach bug and I don't wish it on anyone. It's not fun. Offspring is much better and my husband has won the Husband Of The Year award for his help this past Sunday when Offspring came down with it, and then his help yesterday and today when I came down with it. I'm very blessed and lucky to have a husband with a strong stomach--mine isn't--and he cleans up yucky stuff without batting an eyelash. Other than that I've been taking it easy. Today I'm still sort of weak, but trying to see if I can spend more time out of the bed (back is killing me from being so much in the bed). Yesterday I didn't do much besides sleep, eat a few crackers, drink some fluid, talk to a couple of people on the phone and go to t...

Happy Friday Everybody, I apologize for the lack of posts for Wednesday and Thursday. I still have to sit down and brainstorm blog ideas. Last week and this week family members have been sick and I'm fighting allergy/health issues of my own (nothing serious, just annoyances). I'm working on finishing an ARC for an official blog book review in March (I have THREE for March. I've finished 2 of the ARCs and this is the last one). Then I have another official blog book review to schedule in April and I have to read that book, too. These are some good stories that are coming out, folks! I'm excited to talk about them, but it has meant that I've been very busy, too (if not for an official blog review, but to look up when something is coming out so I can be sure to read it when it's released). I'm also in the process of brainstorming for a WIP (Work In Progress). The manuscript is started, just have some ideas to play around with--plus some other things wor...

Happy Thursday All, Today will have to be a short post. I'm going to try and catch up on some ARC reading I have to get done before the end of February/early March. However, things are starting to slowly get better on the health front in my family and we are hoping and praying (and God willing) that we continue to improve and remain healthy for the rest of the month of February, and hopefully (God willing) into March! But because I didn't want you all to worry, I am around...just super busy. Have A Terrific Thursday!

Happy Tuesday Everyone,  As this image suggests, lots of Kleenex have been used  I'm a little slow getting this post up. A family member of mine has a sinus infection, which has made for an adventure I wasn't planning on. The good news is, the family member is doing better today and saw the doc yesterday and got on antibiotics the same day. I have hopes that this person will be much better tomorrow, but it has meant that I don't have the time to myself that I normally would get during the week. Fortunately, today that person seems to be in better spirits, which I hope continues throughout the day. I expect the family member will improve and get well soon, but positive thoughts and prayers are always welcome and appreciated. Author (and friend of mine), J.D. Faver has done it again! She's put out a new novel, A Romantic Thriller called On Ice (intriguing title, right?) Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it's available on Barnes & Noble Nook (I...

Happy Wednesday All, Yesterday I woke up around 5:45 a.m. for the second or so time in the night. Why? I have no earthly idea. My offspring decided after hearing my husband's voice that it was time to get up. I stayed in bed. Then I found out husband was taking a sick day (turns out he has inflamation in his throat and is on an antibiotic and a thing to soothe his throat). My throat was dry and sore, but I figured based on previous experience--allergies! So all day long I was tossing back water and hot tea. I discovered my throat does  not like Ocean Spray's Cran-Raspberry Juice when it's sore (usually I love this juice, but apparently not when I have a sore throat). So I stuck with water and Apple Cinnamon Tea. The bathroom and I became very well acquainted thanks to all these liquids being forced down my throat with regularity. The sad thing? I got a new Critique Partner and she sent me her manuscript. I hadn't the energy to sit at the computer and critique it...