Writing Life Update

Here I meant to get back into the groove of things, and I stumbled. It's been one of those years I've fallen down a lot on so many levels, but I'm starting to get back on my feet. Little steps, right?

Writing has been slow this year. I managed to get out my Samhain story in good time, but I haven't finished any of the novels I've worked on. That has to stop. A serious writer needs to complete projects. I must stay the course and follow through. To help with that, I'm going to do NaNoWriMo next month. I may lose about nine or ten days due to family stuff, but all those other days can add up big time. I'll be working on a new project for my pen name. A fae story involving a cursed carousel and who knows what else! I'm going to let it surprise me. If you'd like to be my buddy on NaNoWriMo, I'm CRains.

I'm doing great with my reading goals. Mind you, I'm way behind on reading everything I want to read since my TBR list is huge, but I'm nearing 100 books on my Goodreads challenge. I've hit 85!

I just returned from a trip to Canada to visit my family. There are a ton of seasonal events happening this month, and every weekend is busy for me. Life hasn't slowed down all year.

But I have my game nights on Fridays! This has saved my sanity tremendously this year. I finished running The Rise of Tiamat earlier this year. And just this past Friday, we started Curse of Strahd. I'm playing a bard, and I'm obsessed with this new adventure. Good friends creating a story together... There's nothing else like it.

Here's to a productive last quarter of 2019 for all of us!

Word Witch Wednesday - catching up on things

Coming back from vacation, it's a scary thing to turn on the computer and see how much you have to catch up on. I've gotten to a point where I just make a new to-do list rather than let the previous one smother me. At least my July list is very small.

My family vacation was wonderful. I highly recommend to families to try a family camp at least once. This year, there were a ton of kids, and never did I see one not having fun. I got a lot of reading done and took a few naps. Lovely.

With how busy I've been this year, it was nice to sit back and relax. It gave me time to reflect on what I've been up to lately.

1) I haven't written anymore on Of Death and Sorrow (the third book in the Of Blood and Sorrow series). I have 25k words down, but I paused it at the end of the school year. The story has become very large in my head, and I don't think it will be done this year. I'm still trying to be okay with that.

2) Once school starts up, I'll revise, edit, and publish Of Gods and Sorrow (book #2). It's been sitting long enough for me to come to it with a clear mind. Plus, getting that novel out this year will help ease my stress about not having the final one done.

3) I've worked with editors on two short stories for a collection called Futuristic Canada. I'm excited because these stories are unlike anything else I've written. The anthology will be out very soon!

4) I've experimented with a pen name. I wrote a novel and published it. I've marketed it to a very specific audience and done very little promo. It's already done so much better than anything I've ever published. Later this year, after I release the second book for the pen name, I'll be sharing my experience with you. Apparently I have learned something about marketing. Except it works for my pen name and not for me, which is at once exciting and frustrating.

5) I'm building a new story in my head for a big project the authors of Untethered Realms are creating together. I've done a lot of fun research into mythologies I've never read about before. It's so much fun.

6) As many of you know, I'm a geek and I love to play Dungeons & Dragons. I play weekly with a great group of guys. We are in the middle of a long campaign; the first one of this length that I've played in. So, of course, my character is demanding I write a book about her. I can't help it! I'm a writer. These things happen. I may end up writing a series of short stories for her and putting together a collection or sending them out to fantasy venues.

What have you been up to lately? I want to know!

Friday Five for February 27, 2015

1. It's been a busy, busy week. Lots of doctor appointments and school stuff going on. My son got the thumbs up from his eye surgeon. He's healing perfectly. Vision is equal in both eyes and no more surgeries are needed. Yay!

2. I finished all my March tour posts and sent them out to the hosts. Whew.

3. One short story rejection.

4. I'm prepping to start a new novel.

5. I know it's a very short five today. It's been a long week. I'm looking forward to a lazy weekend. Don't forget there's still a few hours to enter to win Zombie Dice!

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Lurking about

Marking our Christmas tree with a flag!

Good morning, friends. Yes, I'm still lurking about the blogosphere. I've been taking it easy, though. I haven't been online that much. I'm trying to relax this month when it comes to net stuff since October and November were so incredibly busy. So don't think I've forgotten about you if I haven't visited your blog in a little while. I want to set up a regular schedule for myself starting in the new year for blog posts and blog visiting.

I finished a supernatural western Christmas short story for my local critique group meeting this Saturday. Now I'm working on my first round of revisions for one of my WIPs. I hope to get it out to my CPs at the latest by the end of January.

Don't forget to enter to win a copy of The 13th Floor Complete Collection! You can also find more freebies and raffles this month with 'Tis More Blessed. Treat yourself.

Friday Five for May 10, 2013

1. Only three more days until the official release and blog tour of THE ORACLE & THE VAMPIRE. It's the fifth book in my 13th Floor series. You can be one of the first people to get the book on Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and Smashwords. There's only one more book left in the series, and the big secret will be revealed next Friday with the cover!

2. I've been finishing off my blog tour posts and getting organized this week. I'd like to do a blog make-over, but I'm not sure what I'll do. Something to consider after the tour. Any suggestions?

3. It's Mother's Day this Sunday. An early Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, grandmas, and like-moms out there. I'll be visiting the in-laws this weekend with a grumpy husband and toddler to soothe. Copious amounts of ice cream are in order.

4. The next few weeks are going to be extremely busy. Good thing I have all the blog tour stuff out and ready! Dentist appointments, school events, a sleep study with the university, a birthday party, and a possible monarch butterfly talk at the park. I'm not sure if there's suppose to be a lot of butterflies there at that time or not, but it will be really cool if there is.

5. My son is beginning to tell great stories and battle dragons in the yard with wooden swords. This summer is going to be a grand adventure! Bonus: the boy can get my husband to sing "Call Me Maybe" for him. Hilarious!

Have a marvelous weekend!