So, congratulations to the winner of the Christmas Giveaway, Sabrina Rutter. I swear I will send the books out as soon as I can make it through the snow to the post office :)
Aside from that, I've been working hard on some very fun fun things for the new year. At last I'm starting my first Children's/Young Adult book that fits into the Harry Potter/Percy Jackson genre. So far the outline is nearing 10 pages, with many more to go.
It will be named the Jack Scar Series.
This spring I will be releasing my two children's books, one aimed for boys and one for girls. They are Grumpy Lumpy, and Dream Dance Prance (though that is just the working title)...
And then of course I will be releasing the third book in the Knight Angels Series this fall (Hopefully September!) I haven't decided on a cover yet, but I will :)
And THEN! I have another book coming out this spring called Ladybird, Ladybird, and I promise you it is and will be the sweetest, most mysterious paranormal love story you will read this year. It's a short read, more of a novella...
I'm giving away a signed copy of Knight Angels: Book of Love and Knight Angels: Book of Revenge in a bundle this holiday season! And as a special gift, I'm throwing in a signed review copy of my new, self-illustrated children's book! What a treat!!
So, here I am, all excited to simmer my beautiful two pounds of fresh mussels in a delightful white wine sauce. I was ecstatic, following the recipe to a "T" because I knew just how good these puppies could be. So I begin...
My husband nearly fell off his chair, and upon looking at me, his eyes got wide. "Babe... your bangs..."
Hand to head, crispy southern bangs... then I smelled burnt hair... "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
I guess I didn't expect the explosion. I had tipped the lid and the alcohol that had condensed on it must have dripped into the gas flame. This had never happened to me before. I have a Christmas party to go to, and I have curly, smokey, crispy fried bangs.
We got record snowfall this November. Already amounts of up to two feet. I love the snow, don't get me wrong, but after a while, shoveling loses it's sparkly glittery glow (if it ever had one).
Seriously, church parking lot, shovel the stairs. I see this and I think of all the little church-going old ladies. Not Cool.
Then lastly, I pulled this out the other day. I haven't played the guitar in ten years, and I'm a bit rusty, but I forgot how good it was for thinking. I learned a Taylor Swift song, cause I'm super cool like that...
Lol.
Even though I had to use a sandwich bag clip 'cause I couldn't find a pick...
Working on another children's book! The first was just so addicting!! This one is about a ballerina mouse who learns how to fit in by simply doing what she loves, DANCE! (another word that starts with the letter 'D')
Began the Christmas festivities with my DICKEN'S Village (Another 'D'!) collection. I own 8 houses so far.
Then of course the ornaments. Most of my ornaments were given to my by my grandmother, who has had some of them for over 50 years. Now that's DETERMINATION!
I just bought this clock the other day at a local antique store. Where I live there are TONS, and being that Mother was in town, I needed to entertain ...let's face it, mothers need entertaining. Not only was it important to get a clock, but spending a week with her reminded me of her own very flawed sense of time. I knew I needed to combat the inevitable inheritance of this flaw by making it as avoidable as humanly possible...
...so...Viola! My Alice In Wonderland-ESK clock, just like the White Rabbit!
Another month has gone down the drain and I find myself ashamed of how long it's been since I've posted anything. I assure you, I've been busy. Granted the blog tour last month kept enough blogging out on the Internet to carry me for all this time, but now I need to get back in the saddle and pony up.
SO!
Lets talk about what I've been up to!
I've been drawing. It's nice getting up early and drawing all day. Makes me feel like I'm five again! I'm making a children's book, as I think I've mentioned before. This is something I've wanted to do for a long while but never had a story good enough until I looked at my own family and came up with a story about my brother.
It's called Grumpy Lumpy, and it's a book about overcoming learning disabilities and finding that in the end you can do whatever you set your mind to, no matter the obstacles. My brother had a few basic disabilities as far as reading and math were concerned, but still managed to grow up and become a pilot because that's all he ever wanted to do. In a world where many kids fall victim to laziness, it's nice to see a story where a boy, with every odd stacked up against him, can still prevail and become something great. I think stories like this help to encourage those blessed with ease of learning to take advantage of the abilities they have because they see someone with harder struggles doing the same.
I'm in love with it, and it makes me cry every time I read it... I've read it a lot!
So, I lack the ability to be patient, but most of you gave me some really great feed back for the cover idea of my Novella, coming out this spring, Ladybird, Ladybird.
So excited about the cover, and given the lack-less sleep, I came up with a great twist of an ending. You are all going to think you know what will happen, but I lack the ability to allow you to be so presumptuous... sorry! I've already found my song that will drive the whole thing. (I like to pick a song for motivation!)
And though this is not the main synopsis, I may as well let you in a little of what it's all about...
Setting: The Country, Wheat Farm
Main Character: Samantha (Sam)
Genre: Teen Romance and Paranormal
Edition: Hardcover! (My first!)
Synopsis:
Samantha was born on a full moon to a mother already dead. Revived by doctors and given to her unloving father, Samantha was raised a cursed child, her only friend the ghost of her mother who speaks to her through keys. From the inside out, Sam burned with life, a fire so vivid it kept her peers at a distance, all except one. Leith, a quiet farm boy with a broken heart and demons of his own, enjoys the seclusion his classmates grant him, but the seclusion is all too familiar to Sam.
I have this new little book I've been feverishly working on, and I always like to have a cover ready to share, so I've been working on it... I like both, so one will be the front, one the back, but I can't decide which to use for the front...
Let me know what you think...
(I know they're small, but bear with me, they're tiny images to begin with)
Ok. This time I swear the link actually works, lol. Ends Halloween night, and includes CANADA, US, UK, and AUSTRALIA. I promise to do my next giveaway to include ALL countries. I realized I should have expanded it, eek!
So as we truck along with drugging the cat per the vets advice I have noticed quite a few fun side effects but most recently I've noticed his Giant, global looking eyeballs. It's like all of a sudden he is seeing the world differently, and finds it surprising...
Just a few things I wanted to say today and I'll get off your back...
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Congrats to Windowpane Memoirs for their new blog look, it is surely one of the most creative ones out there, though most of you truely blow me away when it comes to blogging. I just can't keep up!
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AND THEN!
My friend, Lindsay, shared this blog with me when we were at bowling last week. I couldn't stop laughing! If the day finds you bored, go read some of what she writes! She tells the funniest stories and draws pictures with a simple paint bucket program, but they're great. Considering her 25000+ followers, you know it's good.
October is the release month of the new Knight Angels book! Book of Revenge is touring the blog-o-sphere with character interviews, Excerpts, Reviews, and Scenes! Each day I will post a link of where to go, all you have to do is follow and comment, if you so desire.
Lets all thank Kari for putting the whole thing together (clapping).
In an email sent to his friend, and a point everyone should know...
Steve,
I was re-reading the book the tipping point today. If you haven't read it before, it talks about epidemics and their tipping points. When does something hit epidemic levels. One idea that it spoke of was the idea of the broken windows effect. In New York during the 1990's the city and subway were made safer using this broken windows plan. The idea is that if you want to decrease major crimes you need to take care of the little things like graffiti and toll skippers. The idea is to change the environment, so it appears that someone cares. The idea is that criminals will brake the law in places where it seems like it is acceptable. I was reading the end of the chapter and something hit me. Everyone says do what you are passionate about and the money will come. Or, share what you love with others and the money will come. It just made sense, when you are passionate about something, you enjoy what you are doing, so you do the little things. These little things are the difference maker. They dictate whether you are going to be successful or flounder after a few months. I feel like this is the reason why some are successful and some aren't. It is the little things.
I just wanted to share this profound idea that popped up today.
Erik
Kitty went to the vet again since he supposedly has Kidney failure...
He's been ripping apart doors, floors, and peeing everywhere but in his litter box, and I'd finally had enough!
I took him, this time, up to the university where our vet school in nationally awarded. Turns out he's fine! He's just anxious and depressed.
"Here. Give him these." They said.
"What are 'these'?"
"... well ... Prozac. That cat needs something." All the while she staring at me bleary eyed as they had kept Chandler overnight for testing. I could tell he must have drove them as nuts as me...
I took kitty home and forced a half of a pill down his throat and this is a re-enactment of the following 48 hours of his life...
For the last week I've been indulging my college talents and have been trying out a new genre! My brother was the inspiration for my new story, and where word count is hardly the main factor, illustration certainly is. I stayed up late one night (my husband was snoring, sleepwalking, and standing in the closet talking to himself...) and I wrote the story all in one sitting. Unfortunately, illustration is a bit more time consuming...
My brother struggled with school but having worked hard with the constant support of his little bear Grumpy Lumpy, he managed to overcome his struggles and is now a commercial pilot, not a feat easily mastered given his obstacles, especially when most would have given up long ago...
Today we launched our new website for Knight Angels pending the coming release of Book Two: Book of Revenge. We made the website more interactive and simple, clearing out the clutter while keeping it exciting. You'll need Flash to view it on your computer, but most computers have that these days, just not those pesky iPhones.
So roll on over and check out the new Knight Angels website!
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