It's Time For September...

Happy Thursday and September!

Somehow it feels like the months are going by faster. I'm not sure why I feel that way--maybe I've just been super occupied while things were happening.

In my personal life there has been plenty going on--from being a mom, to a wife, to my family-of-origin stuff, there has been several things happening. Some good things, some hard, some okay--basically life.

As far as my writing life is concerned, I've formed a private writer's group with 2 other authors. They're super encouraging and it's fun to be a part of a writer's group again. I hadn't decided what I wanted to do as far as joining one, so this is perfect for me at this time. I've been doing some writing (I've got like what is it, 3 WIPs--Works In Progress--right now? I don't work on all of them at the same time--I just go with whatever one I'm in the mood for or have ideas I want to add. Normally I don't work this way, but right now it's working for me). I'm still querying a finished manuscript of mine. We'll see what happens there. And I've got some projects I'm not ready to talk about, yet, in the works, too.

The Author Encounter is having a slower year because of stuff both in my life and in Nan's. We're okay, just things that we had let our members know about. Keep an eye on the website for announcements/info.

I've also been doing some reading. I haven't done a TON of reading and I skip around a lot from re-reading books I loved, to reading newer books. I'm not sure how many books I read in August...maybe 3? How about you? How many books did you read in August and are there any you're excited about?

Enjoy your September and to those who are back in school, I wish you a wonderful school year!

Have A Totally Terrific Thursday! 

It's ALREADY August?

 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 Fall.

Speaking of Fall, it's time to gear up for a new school year. Would somebody tell Texas weather that it's time to cool off?? Maybe send some rain?

This month's post is short, I know, and I apologize for that, but with all the craziness in my house, this is the best I can do at the moment! Hopefully things will calm down.

Have A Fabulously Fun Friday and a Amazing August!

A Little Late With July...

 Happy Friday Everyone!

I'm a little late getting the July post up, but perhaps you can forgive me since I was sick the first week of July. I'm much better, now. I don't recommend being sick, it's really a 1-star or no-star review from me, but it did give me a lot of time to pray, and working on my faith is never a wasted opportunity (when I take the opportunity) so there's that. I couldn't really even read much while I was sick because the screen made me dizzy and I didn't even bother trying with printed books, either. Mostly I either watched videos/movies, or slept. The sleeping was probably a good idea. Now, I've got a plan to work on getting myself stronger and keeping up with my vitamins. Thankfully, I've got a great doctor, so I had good help.

Getting well meant I was able to get back to writing again, which has been nice. I don't know what will come of the novel I'm working on. Per usual, I'm going to keep details under wraps (aside from a very few people who know what I'm working on). It's just easier to work on a manuscript without anyone's expectations except my own (and God's, of course, but that's a given for me). It's funny to be working on something and suddenly see how late the time is and scramble to get ready for bed. I haven't done that in a while, so it's bringing back some memories. Good memories, though.

I'm still querying. I prefer not to go into detail there since it's an extremely personal process for me. It's also a long process and I don't know what the outcome will be.

Other than that, still working with The Author Encounter, still being wife and mom, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend--all the usual stuff. I'm hoping Texas gets some rain SOON (not flooding or damages, but enough rain that the temperatures are cooler and the grass, crops, plants, trees, etc. are okay--it would be nice for my husband if he didn't have to water very often). We're spending as much time inside as possible. It's just too hot to be out-of-doors for long.

Wishing heat relief if it's hot where you are and a great rest of your July!

Have A Fabulously Fun Friday!

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!

May Has Arrived...

 Happy Monday and Happy May!

April was full of many things...including going up to Springdale, Arkansas to lay my father-in-law to rest. I didn't know him very well, but being up there with my husband and kids, I got to learn a little more about him. I knew he'd loved his wife to the very end of her life, but what I didn't know was how much. Several pictures had the caption "My beautiful wife..." and then a description of the picture. In the living room and his room, the walls were full of pictures of her and of their wedding. He had several of them framed. In all of them he looked happy (she looked happy, too, just in case y'all wondered). So I got to see more of his devotion to her. My mother-in-law died some years ago from Alzheimer's. By the time I met my husband and we were getting married, she was already pretty far along (although we did talk a tiny bit about her rose garden--which the flowers in their yard were lovely). They're now buried together in a cemetery in Springdale, Arkansas, according to my father-in-law's last wishes. My husband was AMAZING. He did the majority of all the cleaning in the house, and moved a ton of furniture. Some he gave away, some he sold. The house is just about sold (people up there move fast!) I barely saw him because he was so busy. But we did manage to get over to Eureka Springs and to Two Dumb Dames. I've been to Two Dumb Dames twice and ordered from there about 3 times. The fudge is the best fudge ever (in my and my husband's opinions). And yes, they do ship. I had some delivered to my parents' house last year, as well as to one of my best friend's. Everybody I've had try it has been totally amazed by how good it is. The company was started in 1979, and now the daughters/sons run it (so it's still in the family). It's a funky little shop with chocolates, fudge, truffles, candy, and t-shirts. I love it.

My anniversary is this month, which is something I'm happy about. Another year with my Real Life Hero, another year full of good and bad, ups and downs. Living out our marriage vows, being each other's best friends, being parents, family, friends to others. It's not always easy, but it isn't something I'd trade in. He's a man who truly gets me and I consider that a gift from God. So I'm grateful for him.

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and I want to wish every mother out there a very Happy Mother's Day! I love my children even when it's tough (and sometimes especially when it's tough). Nobody is perfect, but they are incredibly special to me.

As to writing, I'm continuing on. I've been querying a manuscript, and I've got several other ideas. I've no idea what will happen or where everything will lead. God has always been in charge of things in my life, and so I entrust this to Him, while trying to do what I can. I'm hoping more of my books will be available on audiobooks--my narrator and I are often in touch (he's worked on some things for The Author Encounter with me and my business partner, Nan), so we'll see.

I've made some new author friends this year, and I'm grateful for them being in my life as well, and for you, my darling readers!

I wish each and every one of you a marvelous May! I hope it's a good month for you all.

Have A Magically Merry Monday!

April Has Arrived...

 Happy Friday!

It's April, if you can believe...or even if you can't believe it. Sometimes to me it seems like the year goes slowly and other times it seems fast.

Real life has been taking up some of my attention lately, so I forgot to get a post ready ahead of time. Now we're approaching Easter (well, at least it's a little over a week away, but still it's almost here).

I've got a story out on query with agents and we'll see how that goes. I participated in the recent Mood Pitch on Twitter and that was an interesting experience. As part of the pitches, participants could share Mood Boards (for those who don't know what a Mood Board is, they're images/words that express either the mood or something about a story--or whatever the person who creates the Mood Board wants to express). It was kind of cool to see pictures with pitches.

The Author Encounter keeps moving along. We're having a quieter year due to real life (not bad, just busy). But we're working on some ideas.

There are some personal things going on in my life that I don't want to post here, but I'm pretty active on Twitter, so feel free to follow me there. If something newsworthy happens, I'll share it here, too. :-)

I wish you and yours a wonderful April and a very Happy Easter!

Have A Fantastically Fabulous Friday!

In Comes March...

 Happy Monday Everyone!

It's MARCH! Can you believe February is already over?

I meant to make this blog post earlier than now, but I was busy with editing, and life, so I had to put the post on hold. Editing is currently done, so I've got some time to post.

So let's see...

Lent has begun, which was punctuated for me by Ash Wednesday. I like to go to church to receive ashes. It was nice. I had my offspring with me--which meant a bit of adventure, but we managed okay.

The Author Encounter is gearing up for its 2nd Annual Authors March Forward events. A little smaller than last year, but still exciting. Watch TAE website and social media for more information. (I'm looking forward to it, as I do all our events because they're informative and fun).

I'm not excited about the clocks moving forward on Sunday, March 13th. Losing an hour of sleep, not fun. I'm sure I'll adjust, though.

Hopefully I'll have some exciting news in April regarding something that has nothing to do with what I was editing or anything I'm querying. For now, I'll just leave this vague statement here and let you, darling readers wonder. (Sorry, sometimes it's fun to keep y'all in anticipation).

February was a rough month because a family member had some health things pop up--thanking the Lord that the family member is okay. I was stressed for a few days and then came my deceased friend's death anniversary (she passed on 9 years ago). I'm hoping March will be better. There is likely to be some nerves about these projects (I hope things go well and all that) Regardless of nerves, I'm looking forward to it all.

There are a lot of things going on in the world right now, and I'm praying about them. I don't want to discuss these things on my blog, but they are in my prayers.

Take care, darling readers. I wish you a good March. Happy St. Patrick's Day, too!

Have A Marvelously Merry Monday!