Ready For "Ber" Months; Here's September...

Happy Friday Everyone!

September has arrived! For some reason August seemed a little slower than other months, but then I thought how about how school days started back up and I was like "Wait...didn't we just enter summertime?"

Let me think....August was busy. Some things that have been important to my family over the years have closed. Whether price, attendance, or whatever, they closed. One of those has been resolved, while we work on others.

As for writing...yes, progress is being made. I've been editing Sugar & Frost and I still love it. I've been editing for a while, now, but polishing my manuscripts the best I can before querying is important. I really hope readers will like it / love it, too. It's such a fun story!

I've also made progress on other things I need for querying. Major work on my blurb is done, thanks to the help of my long-time critique partner. When I sent it to her, and she sent me back her suggestions, ideas started coming. I think it's much better now. Yet another reason for polishing and editing! The synopsis has been drafted and I'm working on that as well. So, things are coming together. :-)

As for the month of September itself...I'm all right with some cooler weather, but I will / have already offered up at least one prayer for us not to have ice or snow. In 2021, we had what I dubbed "Snowmeggedon". While I do like the remodel on our kitchen, I'm not in any hurry to remodel anything else or have any other problems. We've had quite a few things we need to fix this year already, so a break would be nice. I wouldn't turn down 55-65 degree weather, though. That sounds nice. For those of you who do get snow regularly in the winter, maybe one day my story will be available to you during those wintry months and you can wrap up in a warm, soft blanket, with your favorite hot beverage, a fire in the fireplace and enjoy my story. That would be a wonderful thing as far as I'm concerned. :-)

In any case, wherever you are and whatever the weather, I wish you a lovely September!

Have A Fabulously Fun Friday!

December Is Here & So Is FALL...

 Happy Wednesday All,

Surprise! I'm actually posting BEFORE the end of the month! Imagine that. 😊

I think my part of Texas is confused about what season it is. We were having some cooler temperatures and then all of a sudden it decided to go up again. Now, that's relatively normal in a sense for us, but what is curious is that the tree in my backyard decided it wasn't winter, but FALL! All these colored leaves are covering my backyard. I looked around and thought "Guess the plants and trees are confused as to what season it is. Can't blame them since the weather is, too!"

December is quieter so far than September through November were and I am NOT complaining about that. In September, my father suffered a bad fall and consequently there was a whole lot of stress. October saw my folks move out of their home of over 30 years into Assisted Living. When November came along, me and my family had a stomach bug. The very beginnings of December was the tail-end of my parents' estate sale (auction). So, I'm fine with some quiet.

This is not to say my brain is quiet--that's a rare thing even during the best of circumstances. Querying is still going on with my never-been-published manuscript (mss) and I'm making some new friends with people in the writing/publishing industry which has been fun. I really enjoy how encouraging other writers can be and I try to do the same.

I've done a tiny bit of writing, but not as much as I probably should do--but I've also been trying to get my house in better order and get ready for Christmas in the Averie Household, so yeah, writing hasn't been at the forefront. But that's not to say I haven't been thinking about it and working out ideas! I most definitely have been doing that. My imagination doesn't stay still for long.

On The Author Encounter front, my business partner, Nan, and I are prepping for January and the new year. We're hoping to do more than we did this year (both of us have had a crazy, crazy 2022). Watch the website or Twitter for news. We do have some videos posted on the Facebook page and on YouTube.

Until the next time I post, I wish y'all a very happy Advent, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and happy holidays. If by chance I don't post before January 2023, Happy New Year!

Have A Whimsically Wonderful Wednesday!

Whoo-Hoo, It's November...

Happy Monday All,

It's November! Texas weather isn't sure if it's supposed to be warm or cold (I say cold, but snow only on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day). We made it through Halloween (not exactly my favorite holiday, although my eldest likes parts of it). As a Catholic, I went to All Saints' Day Holy Mass on Friday (All Saints' Day is November 1st). People have been breaking out all their favorite Fall decorations, food, etc. Folks in the USA are looking towards Thanksgiving to get together with friends and/or family. A sense of anticipation hangs in the air as we get closer to December and the Christmas/Hanukkah season. And, it's my favorite time of the year--Fall/Winter.

For writers, November is the time for National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. I'm not participating, although on my author Facebook page, I am proposing another challenge for writers who aren't doing NaNoWriMo, if you're wanting to check that out.

This year, for Thanksgiving, the Fam. and I are likely headed for my parents' house. I don't know who else will be there (or we'll be at my sister's house, depending on what my mom says). Christmas will be at my parents' house. And after Christmas I think some other family will be in town. I look forward to my Dad's baking. He's an amazing baker and cook. My mother is, too, but my Dad is more into it. I like to bake, so hopefully I'll get around to doing some of that this year.

I need to finish reading Avery Flynn's Awk-Weird. I love her work. So much fun and light-hearted. I've got a stack of new books (and some older ones) to get to, as well. I finally got my hands on Shanna Swendson's newest Enchanted Inc. book, Enchanted Ever After, and I'm really looking forward to reading it. Non-romance books, I've been reading one by Fr. Donald Calloway, which I have enjoyed another one of his books and his videos. He's an inspiration to me. What's on your TBR (To Be Read) list this Fall/Winter?

It looks like I'll likely make an appearance at BrazCon 2020 (I believe that's on February 15th). I'm hoping to make RWA Nationals 2020 (in San Francisco) but my plans aren't firm on that. My narrator plans to be there, so I'm really trying to get out there so I can introduce him around!

Books 5 and 6 in the series still need to be finished. I know, I'm being incredibly slow. This year has been--well, interesting. I can't go into detail, just know it's in my heart that I want to get back to writing and I'm hoping all the stuff that's gotten in the way goes away. I still have to finish polishing (I've got a good amount of the edits done, just got to do these last details) on my Jeannie Averie novel.

Other than that, we're fighting allergies, sore muscles, and whatever else gets in the way of a perfect day. Life happens and often good and bad exist together on the same day/week/month/year, so just gotta power through the bad and hang onto the good!

Hope all is well on your end, dear reader, and I wish the best of Fall and Winter!

Have A Meritoriously Marvelous Monday!

Turkey Vultures, Shopping, & Giveaway Details

Happy Monday Everybody,

I hope y'all had a great weekend! My weekend was packed! I had shopping to do, church, and we went to the library--but it was a good weekend.

This morning after coming home from an errand, I pulled up to find that there were Grackles (big black birds, but not crows) and a Turkey Vulture picking at the garbage along the curb that was waiting for the garbage truck. I had never seen a Turkey Vulture that close before (and I was glad I was in the car). Those things are huge and ugly. You want to feel sorry for them for being so ugly, but they're so huge that you start wondering if you'd win if they tried to attack you. Fortunately, said vulture flew away and landed on the opposite side of the street on some one's rooftop, so I was able to get to the door unmolested by an ugly (and possibly vicious) bird. Although, I doubt they attack humans, but you can't be too careful! LOL. (yes, I'm being funny--it's okay to laugh).

Okay...I have an announcement:  This week there's TWO giveaways. Yes, you read that right TWO--on two different days.

Whenever you see THIS graphic at the TOP of a post, it means it's a December Days Blog Giveaway day:

I'll post the rules and everything each day. This is YA week--so there's 2 different days, with 2 different YA authors and books.

What's been a strange experience for you this Christmas/Holiday Season (please no vomit stories, I sometimes read comments when I'm eating)

Have A Merry Monday!

The Wind Blew And I Danced

Happy Tuesday All,

Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. The weekend wasn't really a long one for me and the husband (he worked Monday and so did I, although, my work was different from his. While he went to his place of work, I was working from home on my edits).

The weather is a bit cooler--not much--but definitely felt the change. Saturday night I went grocery shopping with my husband and offspring. When we came out it was windy and raining (not hard). I danced in the rain (hey if you had been through this drought we Texans have experienced, you would, too).

I love cooler weather and I didn't mind the wind. It felt GREAT. (In case you haven't noticed, Fall and Winter are my favorite Seasons...I just love the cooler weather, and the Holidays--especially Christmas).

Recently I found out that Bath & Body Works has its Fall scents out. I fell in love with "Orchard Leaves" (it's a spicy fall scent that makes me want to make a hot cup of tea and snuggle up with a blanket). I also got "Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin" and "Cinnamon Raisin Cookie". "Cinnamon Raisin Cookie" and "Orchard Leaves" are new.

Now we just need some more rain (okay I don't want anything destructive, just something to help us) and the cooler weather and I'll be a happy camper.

What's your favorite season?

Have A Tantalizing Tuesday!