February Reads

 Welcome to my February Trip to the Library... well at least part of it. I need to schedule my trips a little better during the beginning of the month and not the middle of the month. Go figure. This was about 3/4 of my books I grabbed. Two failed to get me interested past the first 10 pages.

Twist by Dannika Dark -- Wow
Impulse by Dannika Dark -- Amazing
Gravity by Dannika Dark --  When is the next book?

I am loving this series seriously! I started it last month learning about Silver and the crazy world around her. It continually keeps me guessing and makes me question how hard it is to write a series. It might be easier at some points but yet very hard at others. I don't want to spoil anything for you, so all I'm going to say is  GO GET THEM, ALEADY!!!

Moonglow and Winterblaze were two more in the Kristen Calihan... Only this time the women in the story had a different give than fire. One sister had the gift of earth and brought in werewolves to the story. The other sister had the gift of freezing things and used it to save her husband and win him back. They were such an unique set of books. I am not sure if Calihan has any more books in this series. I am going to be on the look out for more books by her. Her writing style was very unique and easy to read.

Sadly majority of the other series I started in January were not available when I went back to the library this last time. Maybe the next time...

Series -- Love them or Hate them?

When I ventured out to the library last month, I stumbled upon several books that were in series. In the past, I have not been a huge fan of series. Mainly because unless you buy them all, you don't know if and when you are going to get the next one in the series. I could go to the library and find 1,2, 4, and 6, but none of others. And when you are trying to save money, purchasing books is not very high on the list ... sadly... If I could only own my dream library or a book nook! (Like the one pictured from here and here)
 I know, I know I should spend more money on buying books.  One, I need to slow down with buying them... My bookcases are getting overly filled.  Two, how do you know if the next one in the series is as good as the one you are reading? Three, what if I stop in the middle of 3 and then never go back to them? (Like how I'm stuck on the Game of Thrones book 3, keep getting distracted!)
I know silly problems.
I have been continuing this month with a series I started last month by Dannika Dark. (Love her books) The first book left me wanting more... Much more.. Her second -- Amazing!! (ooh, Logan Cross *drools*) Her third -- Even more amazing... Now to find the next two...


This has been the first series that I can't wait to read and finish in a really long time... I just found out when I went to the library that the last two books of the series are not there... So to buy I will go!

Birthday...

It's that day... That I love and hate at the same time... The day that I recognize that another year has passed and new one is starting... It's my birthday!!!! It's not a big birthday or a different birthday but it's still mine. It's my 33rd :-) Yup that's how old I am...

In typical fashion, years ago I wondered at what my life would be at 30 and on. Well, let me just say none of it is exactly what I thought would have happened. I still don't have a full-time job that I love to pieces. I still have not submitted a book to be published. I still have not traveled that much.

But I have found a guy that means the world to me. We have gotten a house that is super sweet. Our creatures are unique and so different... (I guess that is why it is Yahtzee the dog and Squirrel the cat.)  I have a photography business and I haven't given up on my dreams, yet.

However, since it's my birthday, I'll let you in on a secret. Life doesn't figure it's self out by the age of 30 just because you want it to. It doesn't get easier as an adult. In fact, I'd say it's harder.... So here's to another year of figuring life out and doing the best I can!

November 2015...

This last November, I decided to dive into National Novel Writing Month.
NaNoWrMo is basically you trying to writing a full book from start to finish in 30 days. No editing allowed! I didn't make it this time, but November 2016, you are mine!!!
I had a small plan, but nothing amazing. I took the first week or so trying to get the plan together.  It started to come together. It started to seem like I was just going to run through the whole story in under a month. And then I realized how easy it was to get boggled down with everything that was going on. Everything that would happen in one month time. How many plans interrupted writing plans.          
 I wrote with a vision in my head and a dream of a photoshoot.  I dreamed of a romance suspense novel. I dreamed of ex-boyfriends and a sinfully sexy detective that made every female want to be next to him.  My main character --a woman who reminded me of me just in a different life with different plans. A woman who didn't need a man, but finds a reason for this one.
Throughout the entire month, I would write and then occasionally tweaked my outline. I tried to figure it out. I guess you could say that November was my creating a plan month. But it was also my writing month. With the amount of writing I did during the month, I didn't feel like I had actually gotten anything accomplished. But as I look back now, I can see that I did accomplish a lot. This was my first story that I took the time to make up an outline. It was the first one that I created an outline and then stuck by it. It was my first story in a long time that didn't end on the first page, because I didn't know where it was going. I'm pretty impressed at myself.
The dream is Harlequin. The dream is to do this full-time... but before I can dream that big, I have to dream of finishing this story and another and another.  

So Bathtubs and Murder will be completed before this NOVEMBER 2016!!!

It must be!!!  

(oh, no I just announced it, oh man, now I have to really work on it..Maybe they won't read this post..Oh, wish me luck... I'm scared..) 

Real Life

You know one of the things I don't like about real life is that it interferes with my writing time. When I make a schedule for built in writing time weekly, there is always something that comes up. I dream about writing on this blog and then something comes up.
Currently in my life, I have a full-time job, a part-time job and a photography business on the side. I mean seriously when something comes up, usually I can't control it. I swear when I have good idea to write or want to write on my story, I am either at work or going to work. It can be so frustrating. Especially when the ideas come fast and furious.
One night before I had to video-tape something for the school I work for, I sat in my room and wrote out an idea. The ideas poured out. It was so amazing. Then when it was time to go and tape, the ideas kept coming and I couldn't answer them... That is frustrating and definitely not the type of thing you can just push off til you are done typing... But man, do I wish I could just push it all off to write.

Real life.... while most of us wish wasn't there, is there. It is something we have to work around whether we write full time or not. We have to make it work. That is why National Novel Writing Month is something that many people do. Sadly I'm still working on my novel. I didn't finish it, but more on that another day.

I dream of a day where I can just write novels full-time and get paid for it.   I dream of being a published author. Watch out world I have a goal! Whether real life wants to fight me or help me!

Writing Mood

I read something the other day that suggest you make the "MOOD" for your writing... I never really believed in that until the other day. We had a snow day from work and I wanted to write while I had time. However when I went to write I had nothing... Not just nothing, but NOTHING...
So I went to Pinterest (yes, I know I'll never get anything done) and started reading about writing inspirational tips... One tip was to turn on music that inspires you. Another was light a candle. They said over and over to create a comforting atmosphere.  Whatever blog I was on said writers need to create a comforting atmosphere because they are exposing their soul when they are writing. The more comfortable to area, the easier it is for words to come. Not going to lie when I read this, I scoffed at it. Then I shrugged my shoulders and found a candle. Then turned on one of my favorite XM station, The Coffee House (all acoustic music). I also refilled my water and grabbed some comfort chocolate to munch on. When I sat down to write again before I even touched my keyboard, I felt the ideas coming to me. After NOTHING, I had something running through my brain. I knew where to start/continue. I knew where I was at in the story.  I sat for a moment just listening to the music softly playing and smelling my pumpkin spice candle. I thought about every other time I have been writing on this story. I have tried to write with silence, because I thought that was one of the things I should be doing. I have tried to write in a separate room. I have tried to write on the couch, at the table and at my desk.
After all of that, I have figured out where my comfortable spot is. I have also figured out that I have to have music playing in the background. I have to have a candle that smells yummy. I have to or the words don't come as quickly or as nicely as I hope they will. And strangely enough, I need my cat in the same room... As you can imagine, it doesn't always work that easily. However when she's near, I can pet and let my mind drift. (I so need to add her to my story!)

Writing

Did you know that at some times about anyone who is anyone who writes gets to a point in their story where they don't know what to write? The creative "gods" or "muses" just aren't there and all you have is a blank page. A page that demands to be written on. A page that demands that you continue your unfinished novel. Somedays I skip ahead and work on another part, which causes me to use other parts in different ways. Revision if when I ever get that full stage will be difficult.

Many people swear by writing the novel all the way through, no stops. No revisions. I don't think that is in my blood. I don't think I can do that, at least right now. I'm following my first novel outline EVER! And man, is it rough! It is just a few ideas thrown onto the page. Ideas kinda put together to resemble a hopeful story. But you know what it's the thought that counts. I'll be lucky if I manage to continue following it... 

I read something the other day that suggest you make the "MOOD" for your writing... I never really believed in that until the other day. We had a snow day from work and I wanted to write while I had time. However when I went to write I had nothing... Not just nothing, but NOTHING...

January Reads

What is it about going into a library? I walk in and I feel like I can read a ton of books. So I pick up about 8-10 books or more... Then I get home and start to read them. After three books, I question whether I will get done by their due date. So I keep reading... Then either renew all of them or just the ones I want to keep and head back to the library to drop off... If I walk in, I feel like I need more books... Then the vicious cycle starts again...

Welcome to my January Trip to the Library...
I have been on a sci-fi book trend lately ... I think it is because of the new TV series Shannara (which is based on the Shannara book series.. however for the life of me I can't figure out which one is the beginning to read them!!)  Plus one of the books, I've been working on forever has a sci-fi feel to it.  Research, man, research.


Would-be Witch by Kimberly Frost --- Not a bad read, quick. It read a lot like a Harlequin book, not a bad thing. It was about a woman who didn't think she had witch powers, but can talk to a ghost because of a locket. The locket gets lost and she has to find the locket before time runs out. Along the way she meets up with a worlock that helps her and werewolves that are after her. I am going to look for the next two in the series... Wish me luck!

Ghost Seer by Robin D. Owens---This one took a little bit longer to grab my attention, but once it did, WOW!! Clare has inherited the gift of seeing ghosts and needing to help them. She has to learn to trust her gift and believe in it. At the same time, a former deputy sheriff arrives in the picture and well sparks! What a unique book, I believe Robin as a few more with this same character that I'm tempted to find.

Wicked and Dangerous by Deborah Blake --- So unique and different... Definitely one I'm going to continue the series. This book follows the tales of Baba Yaga, a legend from Russia. Deborah writes about one of the many Baba Yagas that are in the world. It had romance, intrigue and mystery.

Naamah's Kiss by Jacqueline Carey --- It was so dry starting out. I'm still debating whether it will be truly finished or not... It's about a younger that is searching for her place in her world. She is a love child from two different tribes with two different beliefs.

Firelight by Kristen Callihan --- Hmm... Wow! What a story... Love, mystery, intrigue, super natural... All of the things needed for an awesome romance in my opinion! Can't wait to read more her books!

Flight from Death by Yasmine Galenorn --- Still in the process of reading this one... It's a little hard to get into so I'm going to try it one more time and then try another book by her next month.. Wish me luck!

Sterling by Dannika Dark --- Oh my goodness! What a book! The book started out a little unique but within the first two chapters, you are like WHAT THE HECK!!!  I guess I didn't read the back of the book as well as I should have. This book follows Zoe as she starts to accept her Mage, her new immortal self.  It is the beginning of a series so I'm super excited to find the rest and continue them on...