Merry Christmas / Happy Hanukkah

I'm a bit early, but I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy Hanukkah.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I've received feedback on Coming Home from my editor and all of my beta readers. Thankfully, they all liked the book. There are a few minor tweaks I'll need to make and/or fix but overall, there won't be a lot of rewriting or editing to be done before the book is released in early January 2025.

 Motivational Quote: "To fulfill a dream...to be given the chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life." ~ Bette Davis

What I'm Reading:  I'll be starting Beach Read by Emily Henry tonight when I go to bed. I've heard good things about it so I'm looking forward to reading it.

Random Thoughts:  Cookie baking will commence today and continue throughout the week. We make 12 different kinds of cookies and about 10 dozen of each type every year. We pack them in containers and give them out to friends and family. Every year I say we're not going to cut back and not make so many different kinds, but we always end up with 12 anyway. Some recipes are tried and true that have been made for years (since I was a child) and some are newish having been made at least 3 years and some are new, new being made for the first time. It's a lot of work, but I look forward to it every year.

Random Photo: 

The frosted sugar cookies we make every year and have been making since I was a child.
 

Monday Check In

 Sorry no post this week. I'll be back next week.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I sent out Coming Home to my editor and beta readers last Tuesday. I'm in a holding pattern until I get feedback from them so I'm taking a small break from writing right now.

 Motivational Quote: "Try not to over-think." ~ Amy Beager  I repeated the quote from last week because now I'm trying not to overthink the changes I made to the book before I sent it out for feedback. 

What I'm Reading:  I finished reading Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong last night. It was a stand alone rom-com. It was a fun, fast read.

Random Thoughts:  Like most people, I did a lot of holiday gift shopping over the weekend. I have a few small items I need to pick up from local retailers, but thankfully the majority of the shopping is done. Thank goodness for online shopping. 

Random Photo:

                     Me, trying to decide what holiday cookies to make and give away this year.
 

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I worked like crazy last week to get the editing done on Coming Home. I'll be sending it to my editor and beta readers on Tuesday. I'll have about 2 weeks to get Christmas things done before they send it back to me with their comments and suggestions. 

 Motivational Quote: "Try not to over-think." ~ Amy Beager  This is always good advice when working on edits or rewrites.

What I'm Reading:  I finished reading The Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score last night. I'm not sure what I'll start reading tonight. I have a stack of 8 books that I borrowed from the library last Wednesday. 

Random Thoughts: I hope everyone that celebrates Thanksgiving has a wonderful holiday with their friends and families. 

Random Photo:

                                            The banana bread I made last week.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  The first draft of Coming Home is done. Whew! I wrote it in 10 weeks. That's the fastest I've ever written a first draft. I will edit it this week. I used a new plotting method which not only helped me write the first draft faster, but also helped me write cleaner so I'm hoping there won't be a lot of revisions or rewriting to be done. 

 Motivational Quote: "I'm always trying to be better. Better, better, and better...in all ways and in everything that I'm doing in my life. And it's not about [being] perfect. It's about [being] better." ~ Evgenia Medvedeva

What I'm Reading:  I started The Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score yesterday afternoon. It's the 4th book in the Riley Thorn mystery series. This isn't a typical mystery or cozy mystery series. It's like a rom-com and a cozy mystery were mixed together resulting in a fun and engaging series. 

Random Thoughts:  I tried a new recipe for chocolate orange swirl bread. It came out well. I think when I make it again, I'll add a touch of orange extract for a bit more orange flavor. The recipe only calls for orange zest and 2 tablespoons of orange juice so you can taste some orange, but it's like a subtle hint. I'm baking banana bread this afternoon because I have two bananas that are a little too ripe to eat as is. 

Random Photo:

                                Here's a photo of the chocolate orange swirl bread

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I met my weekly goal and picked up the pages I was behind so it was a good writing week. I'm pretty sure I will finish the first draft by this coming Friday. I'm don't remember if I told you all the title of this book, last book in the Echo Company series. It will be Coming Home.

 Motivational Quote:  "...We must be ambitious, and we must have the will." ~ Kailash Satyarthi

What I'm Reading:  I'll be starting On Her Watch by Melinda Leigh tonight. This is the 8th book in the Bree Taggert series. It's shelved as romantic suspense at my local library, but I consider this series to be more suspense with a dash of romance than the usual romantic suspense type books.

Random Thoughts:  I made another ginger cookie recipe yesterday. It's a molasses ginger cookie. They're good, but I think my gingerbread chocolate chip cookie recipe is still better. I think maybe I need to stop looking for a different one especially since everyone in my family loves the gingerbread one. 

Random Photo:

                                              The molasses ginger cookies
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  While I did meet my weekly writing goal last week, I was only able to make up a few of the pages I was short the week before. I'm hoping to get those last pages caught up with this week's writing goal.

Motivational Quote: "I don't always stay energized or hopeful--that's the reality...But I do believe that the struggle is valuable." ~ Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Hide and Seek by Mary Burton yesterday evening. This is the fourth book in the Criminal Profiler series.

Random Things: Can I say I can't believe it's November already? While I'm not ready to start decorating for Christmas, I am looking forward to making my holiday cards that I mail to friends and family and doing the baking for all of the cookie boxes we give out. I just need to finish the book I'm writing in the next couple of weeks so I can focus on all things holiday. My goal is to get my book turned in to my editor by the week of Thanksgiving.

Random Photo:

                              My sisters stopped by for a visit on Halloween. 😄
 

Monday Check In

 Last week...

Writing Related:  I did okay writing wise last week. I didn't hit my weekly goal of 12,500 new words but I did manage to write 7,750 new words so I'm about 19 pages short of where I should be at this time. This week should be quieter so I'm hoping to be able to make up most if not all of last week's shortfall along with this week's writing goal.

Motivational Quote: "So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-- It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit." ~ Edgar Guest

What I'm Reading: I'm about halfway through State of Affairs by Marie Force. This is the first book in the First Family series which is a spin off of the Fatal series. Both are a suspense or romantic suspense type series.

Random Things: It's been cold (highs in the 40's) for a few days then it warms up to the low to mid 70's then back to the 40's so I've been doing a lot of baking on the colder days. I've made cheese bread, tiger bread, shortbread cookies, and chocolate chocolate chip cookies. The problem with baking is that I've been eating all the things so no more baking until it's time to start the holiday baking. 

Random Photo:

These are the chocolate chocolate chip cookies. They taste like a cross between a cookie and a really fudgy brownie (which is my favorite kind of brownie).
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I hit the 200 page mark in the current book I'm working on. I settled on a title - Coming Home. This is the last book in the Echo Company series and is Jimmy and Callie's reunion story so the title seemed very fitting. I think I should be able to wrap the book up in about 100 to 125 more pages. I'll have to see how things go.

Motivational Quote: "Life is changing every day, things come and go, but always be yourself and stay focused on your dreams." ~ Tilda Moyo-Karizamimba

What I'm Reading: I started reading Catch Her Death by Melinda Leigh yesterday afternoon. This is the 7th book in the Bree Taggert series. 

Random Things:  We did go to the pumpkin farm last Friday. I bought a pumpkin to carve and two smaller, almost gourd like, ones. We also bought a few acorn squash. I'll probably carve the pumpkin next weekend and bake the seeds at the same time. I don't want to carve it too early. I'm not so worried that it'll be moldy or rotting by Halloween as I am that the squirrels in the neighborhood will have it half eaten by then. 

Random Photo:

Here's a picture of the pumpkin I bought. It's pretty good sized, not that you can tell from the picture. The farm we went to doesn't charge for their pumpkins by weight. Every pumpkin is $5.00 or less depending on the size. I paid $4.00 for this one.
 

Monday Check In

 Last week...

Writing Related:  I didn't meet my weekly page count goal last week. I had a couple of appointments and two of the expected great nieces/nephews were born. One is a girl named Gia Harper and the other is a boy named Rhys James. They were born 3 days apart. Needless to say I spent more time visiting the new babies and their parents and siblings than I did writing. I'll be back on track this week.

Motivational Quote: "Because you've made one, or a few, not-so-great decisions today, doesn't mean you need to throw the rest of the day in the garbage. Those decisions are in the past. This next minute, this next decision, is still in play." ~ Glenn Patrick Doyle

What I'm Reading: I'm about a third of the way through For the Love of Summer by Susan Mallery. I enjoy both her romance and women's fiction novels but I'm having a bit of a problem liking one of the main characters in this book. I'm hoping as I get further along in the book, I'll change my mind. 

Random Things:  It's going to be cold and rainy with highs in the 40's in my area the first part of the week so we've pushed our visit to the pumpkin farm from Wednesday to Friday when it's supposed to be sunny and about 60 degrees. I do want to purchase a pumpkin, but I'm not sure I'll carve it. I might just draw a face on it instead. I'm not that talented when it comes to pumpkin carving. 

Random Photo:

This is about as creative as I get when it comes to pumpkin carving other than the usual triangle eyes and nose and jigsaw type teeth.
 

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Writing is still going well. I managed to get 15k (60 pages) written last week despite a couple of unexpected things popping up. It was touch and go there for a while if I'd meet my self-imposed deadline of having 150 pages written by the end of last week, but I did it (barely. I had to write the last 6 pages on Saturday to hit the 150 page mark.)

Motivational Quote:  "Farmers don't rush their harvest--why should we? Plant your seeds, be patient..." ~ Joel Leon

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Holding on to Chaos by Lucy Score yesterday afternoon. While this is the fifth book in the Blue Moon series, it also reads as a stand alone. I haven't read any of the previous books and I'm not feeling lost. This is an "insta-love" story which are not usually my cup of tea, but I am liking it so far. (I'm only a third of the way through the book.)

Random Things:  I made my first batch of cookies for the fall season. I don't bake from late May until early October because of the heat and high humidity that we have in the summer months. The cookies are a cross between a gingerbread cookie and a gingersnap. It was a new recipe for me. They're good but if I want a ginger based cookie in the future, I'm going to stick to my tried and true gingerbread chocolate chip cookie recipe. 

Random Photo:

                              Here's a picture of the Ginger cookies I made on Sunday.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Writing is going well. I hit the 20k mark on Saturday. Only about 67,500 more words to go to finish the first draft. If I nothing unexpected pops up, I should have the first draft completed by November 1st. Fingers crossed.

Motivational Quote:  "Most of the time I just show up and keep doing it, and sooner or later the magic happens. I've learned to trust my skill, but it took a long time." ~ Isabel Allende

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Sticks and Scones by Ellie Alexander yesterday afternoon. This is the 19th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. I've enjoyed all of the books in the series so far. If you like cozy mysteries, you should check this series out. 

Random Things:  The other day a friend mentioned she is almost finished with her holiday gift shopping. Am I the only one who dreads holiday gift shopping? I do the majority of it online, only venturing into a store to make a purchase when I have no other option, but I still dread it. I don't even want to think about it until the week of Thanksgiving. I try to get everything purchased between Black Friday and Cyber Monday so it's all done in a weekend then all I have to do is wait for the packages to arrive and I can breathe easier until the following November.

Random Photo:

                                                This is so me lately.

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I kept feeling like I was starting this new book in the wrong place so I deleted everything I wrote the prior week and started over. I didn't actually delete it, I saved it in a separate file in case I decide I want to use it or part of it in another place or even in another book. With the fresh start last week, the words are coming faster which makes the writing easier. I'm taking it as a sign that I'm on the right track finally.

Motivational Quote: "We will spare no effort, we will not tire or despair, we will not lose faith and we are confident that, in the end, our aim will be achieved. ~ Anwar El-Sadat

What I'm Reading:  We went to the library Friday afternoon so I started reading The Rule Book by Sarah Adams that evening. It's a cute rom-com that's holding my interest.

Random Things:  Yesterday was the official start of fall. Part of me is welcoming the changing of the season and all the things that go with it - cooler weather, being able to baking bread, the changing of the leaves, mulled apple cider, and the crisp bite of a newly picked apple. I eat apples year round, but here in upstate NY, it's apple picking time. We usually go to a pick your own apple farm and get a bunch. We're planning on going in mid-October and I'm already looking forward to it.

Random Photo:

We're trying to do less snacking after dinner, so I've been purchasing less treats, but now I'm constantly looking in the pantry for a snack or a treat. It's almost like my brain knows we don't have any so it wants one.

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I started writing the last book in the Echo Company series. It's a little slow going. I usually struggle to get the first few chapters written and then it gets easier. I also did more plotting this time than I usually do. I'm hoping it'll help me write the book faster as I would really love to get it out before the end of the year. 

Motivational Quote:  "You have to take risks and make mistakes in order to really get into the good work. In theory YES!  But in practice...oh the misery! ~ Liv Aanrud

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Identity by Nora Roberts over the weekend. I haven't read any of Ms. Roberts's books in a couple of years. My sister lent me her copy of Identity insisting that I had to read it, so I am. 😄

Random Things:  Now that we're in September I thought I'd be able to do some baking. I want to make some bread, cinnamon swirl bread in particular, but it's been in the mid 70's and 80's so still a bit too hot to put the oven on and heat up the house even more than it already is. I make bread quite a bit during the fall and winter months. I like the kneading process of making bread. I find it to be relaxing and a great stress reliever, not to mention the fact that I end up with all this great bread to eat. 

Random Photo: 

                                 Starting the last book in the Echo Company series.

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  One Last Chance was published in ebook on 08/31 and the paperback was published on 09/01/24. I ended up getting it submitted and released thru Amazon a couple of days earlier than I expected. I've put a picture of the cover and the story summary/blurb below under the Random Things category. You can click on the cover on the upper right side of this blog to be taken directly to Amazon to purchase it. It is also available in Kindle Unlimited.

Motivational Quote: "The most meaningful goals are usually slow to achieve." ~ Atul Gawande

What I'm Reading: I started reading Liar's Point by Laura Griffin yesterday afternoon. This is the 5th book in the Texas Murder Files series. 

Random Things: As I mentioned above One Last Chance (Caine's book) is finally available for purchase. The cover is below. Here's the story summary/blurb:

You know what they say about Karma…

Supermodel Tabitha Mayne had it all - fame, fortune, and a willingness to do anything to stay on top. But one fateful night, her world is shattered. Tortured and left for dead, she now bears physical and emotional scars that she can't bear to show the world. Desperate to escape the constant scrutiny of the paparazzi, she flees to a small town in Virginia.

Hiding from her old life proves to be a challenge when she unexpectedly finds herself sharing a cabin with Sebastian Caine, a former elite military operative with extraordinary abilities. Wounded and on the run from a powerful adversary, Caine has no choice but to take refuge in his isolated cabin. When he discovers Tabitha, he wants nothing to do with her. The last thing he needs is the complication of a woman running from her troubles. He has enough of his own.

As circumstances force them to stay together, an unlikely bond begins to form between them. When Caine’s enemies close in, threatening to destroy them both, Tabitha and Caine must put their trust in each other but their troubled pasts may be their undoing. Can they overcome their demons and find true love, or will their secrets tear them apart forever?

Random Photo: Here's the cover for One Last Chance

 

Happy Labor Day

 

                            I hope you and your families enjoy a wonderful labor day.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I finished the final edits and revisions on One Last Chance (Caine's book) on Saturday. My editor is taking one last quick look at it and then it will be ready for publication. Whew! At times I wondered if I'd ever get it out into the world.

Motivational Quote: "I am a pessimist with a lot of hope." ~ Mia Couto  This quote describes me perfectly.

What I'm Reading: I started reading This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter yesterday afternoon. It's the latest book in the Will Trent series. The first few chapters were slow going, but it's gotten much better. Now I hate having to put it down to do other things.

Random Thoughts:  I'm going to be a great-aunt three times over. Three of my nieces (one is a niece-in-law) are pregnant and all of them due at the end of September, early October. One couple is expecting a boy, one couple is expecting a girl, and the last couple chose not to find out the gender so it will be a surprise. 

Random Photo:

I came across this on Facebook. It resonated with me because it's really accurate (in my opinion).

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I received feedback from my beta readers so this week I'll be incorporating their remarks and/or suggestions into the manuscript. There isn't too much that they marked up so I'm hoping to have everything completed by the end of the week.

Motivational Quote:  "I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." ~ Groucho Marx

What I'm Reading: I started reading Quarter to Midnight by Karen Rose last night. It has 594 pages! Needless to say I won't be finishing it in a couple of days.

Random Thoughts:  School supplies are on sale. I've already purchased a couple of binders that I needed. While I don't need to buy any, I find myself perusing the notebooks, folders, and pens. I'll probably pick up a package of pens because you can never have enough pens. I'll also get a few one subject and composition notebooks because I use those for plotting and journaling. I do a journal for each book while I'm writing it. 

Random Photo:

 Last week was an exercise is frustration and patience (which I never seem to have enough of). Believe me when I say there weren't enough cookies in the grocery store to make me happy.

Monday Check in

Last week...

Writing Related: I'm still tinkering with the blurb for the back cover. I have a couple of different versions but nothing that I'm 100% happy with. I'm also waiting to hear back from my beta readers. I should get the last of the feedback by this coming weekend.

Motivational Quote:  "When you're younger, it's easy to underestimate how fleeting the days can be. Each choice matters. Each day matters. When you're older, it's easy to underestimate how much opportunity you still have. Don't talk yourself out of it. It's never too late to start." ~ James Clear

What I'm Reading: I started reading Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz last week. I've read a lot of her previous books including those written under her Amanda Quick pseudonym. I hate to say it, but I'm really struggling to get through this book. 

Random Thoughts:  As much as I'm enjoying watching the Olympics, I'm also looking forward to them ending. I'm finding myself watching various events when I should be doing other things. 

Random Photo:

                  Mrs. Green and Somebody sharing the window while watching the birds. 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm going to have to push back the release of Caine's book  It's killing me to have to do it, but I don't have any choice. It'll only be 3 weeks later than the originally scheduled date but it's still later than I said it would be published. The title is One Last Chance. It will be available for purchase on 09/04/24.

Motivational Quote:  "I have to believe that when things are bad I can change them." ~ Jim Braddock (Russell Crowe) from Cinderella Man.

What I'm Reading:  I still reading The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. I haven't had a lot of free time to read lately. I'm also finding it hard to like either one of the main characters.

Random Thoughts:  Caine's book has been a bear to write from start to finish. First, I fell and broke 1 rib and fractured 2 others that made it hard to sit and write for any length of time, then I ended up in the hospital for a week. After I was released, it still took me a bit to get back to feeling up to writing and not spending that time sleeping. Then my editor had a family emergency which I totally understand. These things happen. That's life. She was wonderful about keeping me apprised of when she'd be able to get to my submission(s) but it also delayed things a bit. Now, I have this latest issue that is causing an additional delay. As much as I love this book and think that it's a great book, I'll be so glad when it's finally published and I can move on to the next book in the series. 

Random Photo: 

                         This is how I feel the writing of One Last Chance has been. 😄
 

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Caine's book is finished, I hope. I'm sending it to my beta readers today. While they have it, I'm going to work on the back cover copy.  I think writing the blurb is almost harder than writing the actual book. It might take me the whole week to get the blurb done to the point where I think it's not completely terrible.

Motivational Quote:  "You can always attempt things and if they do not work out well; fine. But at every point in time, you just need to put in your best." ~ Kafayat Sanni

What I'm Reading:  I started The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center a few days ago. I've read a lot of her work and enjoyed most of them. I think there was only one that I didn't finish. 

Random Thoughts:  I don't usually watch sports of any kind but when the Olympics roll around, I find myself glued to the TV. I try to watch as many of the different sporting events as I can during the summer games. During the winter games, I usually only watch the ice skating, skiing, bobsled, and luge events. 

Random Photo: 

          My doctor's office decorated their year round tree for Shark Week this month.
  

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  While doing one last read through, I found a dangling plot thread that needs to be woven into the story. I'll work on that this week and then send the completed book to my beta readers next Monday. It'll put me a week behind schedule, but I'm hoping they won't find much that needs changing.

Motivational Quote: "Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse wouldn't quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and crawled out..." ~ Frank Abagnale, Sr. from the movie Catch Me If You Can

What I'm Reading:  I'm currently reading The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley. It's the first book I've read of Ms. Oakley's. I'm enjoying it and should have it finished in the next couple of days.

Random Thoughts:  Two new shops that sell handmade ice cream opened in my area. I'm interested in visiting both of them as they have unique flavors. One is known for its basil ice cream and the other is known for it's S'Mores ice cream cone with a toasted marshmallow on a skewer topper and their lemon soft serve with a blackberry jam topping. I'm a huge fan of S'Mores so that will be the one I would most likely get.

Random Photo:

                        It's been so crazy busy lately, this how I feel most mornings.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I'll need this week to finish up the last of the revisions for Caine's book. It'll go to beta readers next week. 

Motivational Quote:  "The only menace is inertia." ~ Saint-John Perse  I'm repeating the quote from the first week of July. It seems appropriate as I'm working hard to meet my self-imposed deadline to finish this book. 

What I'm Reading:  I finished The Messy Life of Jane Tanner by Brenda Novak last night. I'll be starting a new book this evening. I just have to decide which one of the 6 books I borrowed from the library to read next. 

Random Thoughts: We have a lot of squirrels in my neighborhood. I've been fighting them off with a non-toxic spray that is supposed to keep them from eating your plants. I didn't want them to bother the sweet potato vine I'm growing. We got a lot of rain from what was left of Hurricane Beryl last week. The rain must have washed the spray off the porch area where I've been spraying it because I got up the next day and found the sweet potato vine completely dug up and out of the pot. I've replanted it and am keeping my fingers crossed that it will re-root and survive. 

Happy 4th of July

     I'm a few days late but I hope you and your families had a wonderful 4th of July holiday.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I hit my goal of writing 40k in new material in the month of June on 6/28. I actually wrote a total of 44,500 words. There are some plot holes that need fixing and the usual editing and revisions but Caine's book should be finished by July 15th. It'll go to beta readers either that week or the week after at the latest.

Motivational Quote:  "The only menace is inertia." ~ Saint-John Perse

What I'm Reading:  I finished A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones last night. It's the third and final book in the Sunshine Vicram series. I'm planning on going to the library this coming Friday so I'll probably just go through the magazines my sister brought over for me to look at until then.

Random Thoughts:  It's hard to believe it's July 1st. The month of June flew by but that could have been because I was so busy writing as much as I could. It also could be that the warm summer months seem to go much quicker than the cold, snowy winter months.

Random Photo:

              Mrs. Green lounging in the Chewy box that all her fun things came in.
  

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  The book is going well. I wrote 12,500 new words last week. I should have no problem hitting my goal of 40k by the end of the month. I'm also working through the edits/changes suggested by my editor. I've been able to send her each week's pages every Sunday so she's basically editing it as I'm writing it. 

Motivational Quote:  "Find the good. It's all around you. Find it, showcase it, and you'll start believing in it." ~ Jesse Owens

What I'm Reading:  I'm reading Blast From The Past by Lucy Score. It's the third book in the Riley Thorn series. It's a humorous mystery type series though sometimes it seems like the shenanigans of the characters overshadow the mystery part of the story. 

Random Thoughts:  I thought I'd give an update on my sweet potato vine. It was growing so fast, I had to move it to a bigger pot already. The vine grew so tall, I put it out on my back porch and tied string round the porch railing and support post for the vine to twine around. I'm hoping I'll get at least a couple of blossoms soon. 

Random Photo:

                         The sweet potato vine in its new home on the back porch.

Monday Check In

Sorry, no post this week. I will say that I wrote 12k last week. I'll be back next week with a full Monday Check In post.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  As I mentioned in my last Monday post, I'm doing my own Camp NaNoWriMo this month. I feel like I had a good start. I need to write at least 10k a week to make my goal of 40k by the end of the month. I ended the week with 8k which is slightly less than the 10k goal, but it was an incredibly busy week with appointments three out of the five week days that took up my usual writing time. It should be easier to do the 10k this week as I only have one physical therapy appointment. 

Motivational Quote: "You can't go back and make a new start, but you can start right now and make a brand new ending." ~ James Sherman

What I'm Reading:  I'll be starting Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong tonight. This is the third book in the Rip Through Time series. I'm not usually a fan of time travel books, but this series is the exception. 

Random Thoughts:  I rooted a sweet potato in water about six weeks ago to see if it will grow into a flowering vine since sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory family. I planted it in a pot about 2 weeks ago and it's growing like crazy. I put a picture of it below.

Random Photo:

                                            Here's the planted sweet potato.

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Camp NaNoWriMo is held in April and July. I participated in the camp in April and didn't quite make my goal. I want to push really hard this month and finish Caine's book so instead of doing Camp again in July, I'm doing it this month. I figure I've got about 40k left to write if I follow my plot outline. That should be doable this month if I don't waste time and write when I should instead of doing other things. 

Motivational Quote: "When you're given an opportunity to change your life, be ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen. The world doesn't give things, you take things. ~ Taylor Jenkins Reid

What I'm Reading: I'm about halfway through Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins. I'm feeling kind of ambivalent about it and hoping it gets better in the second half. I usually enjoy Ms. Higgins' books, this one, not so much as of right now.

Random Thoughts: I'm going to have some extra free time so I'm hoping to get a lot of small projects done this summer. I started a list of things I want to get done (mainly things around the house) and ended up with 25 items on my list. Thankfully, some of them are quick, tiny projects that I can knock out in 30 minutes or so, maybe less. I just couldn't seem to find the time to do them. Now that I have an actual list of things I want to take care of, it'll be easier to get them done, I hope. And I'll have that sense of accomplishment as I cross each completed project off. 

Random Photo:

   I find Mrs. Green cuddled up with the strangest things...like the cord to my laptop.

Memorial Day

 

As you gather with friends and family to celebrate Memorial Day, please take a moment to remember the members of the armed services who gave their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms in ours.