Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Good writing week last week. I should finish up the last of the first round of edits/revisions by the end of the week. I will have to go back and rewrite part of the beginning due to changes I've made to the rest of the book. I hope to get that done by the end of the first full week of April.

Motivational Quote:  "There are only so many hours in the day, so some parts of your life will be out of whack. You can try to have it all if you manage expectations and redefine what joy, protection, and safety mean to you."  ~ Gabrielle Union (American actor and activist)

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Bloodlust by Sandra Brown last Friday. I didn't realize it was the second book in a series. Despite that, I don't feel lost at all or that I needed to read the earlier book first. 

Random Things:  Like most people, I'm looking forward to spring weather. Any day that's 50 degrees or higher makes me want to put away the winter coats, boots, and gloves. Not to mention the shovel and snow brush. I haven't put away the latter yet because I'm certain that as soon as I do, we'll get one last late winter storm. The winter coats will have to stay out a bit longer because we have temperatures in the 30's more often than not.

Random Photo:

This seemed appropriate since I'm working on first draft edits and finding more things that need "fixing" than I expected.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  It's been a busy couple of weeks but I've still managed to make progress on Garrett's book. I'd say I'm about two-thirds of the way through edits for the book, maybe a little less. I'm still on track to be finished by 4/4 unless something unexpected crops up. And given the way the last 2 weeks have gone, that's entirely possible.

Motivational Quote:  "The greatest relationship, the greatest one you will ever have is with yourself. Believe me. Have faith in yourself." ~ Sheryl Lee Ralph (American actress)

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Free Falling by Jill Shalvis Saturday evening. This is the 2nd book in her Colburn Brothers series.  

Random Things:  I made Ciambellone (an Italian citrus cake) for the first time just over a week ago now. You can make it with lemons, limes, or oranges. I used lemons. I've never made a bundt type cake from scratch before. The top of the cake cracked a bit when I tipped it out of the pan but overall I was happy with how it turned out. It had a good lemon flavor but I think it would have better with a lemon glaze. The recipe I was given calls for powdered sugar to be sifted over the top before serving. I would make it again but with a lemon icing or glaze.

Random Photo:

                                                    The Ciambellone that I made.
 

Monday Check In

Sorry, no new post this week. Here's a picture of Mrs. Green from 2 summers ago enjoying some summer sun.

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Edits/revisions on Garrett's book are moving forward. I'm happy with my progress but wish I was further along. At the same time, I don't want to rush the process and turn in a sub-par book to my editor. 

Motivational Quote:  "I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope." ~ Rosa Parks (American civil rights activist)

What I'm Reading:  I started reading The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score yesterday afternoon. I didn't get a chance to read this during the Christmas season so I decided to read it now while it's still cold and snowy outside.

Random Things:  The temperature reached 50 degrees in my area this past weekend. It was bright and sunny and "warm." Warm being a relative term but since we've had days where the high temperatures were in the 20's or lower, 50 almost felt like summer. I'm hoping winter is winding down. 

Random Photo:

 

I meant to include this photo in my 2/16 post. This is a bouquet of roses there were available for purchase at one of our local grocery stores for Valentine's Day. I'm not sure how I'd feel if someone gave me black roses. 

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I hit the 100 page mark in revisions. I still have two-thirds of the book to go. Despite that, I feel like I'm making good progress. I'm trying to do the developmental edits and line edits at the same time. I usually do them separately but this book is so far past its original publication deadline that I want to get my edits done so I can send it to my editor and beta readers by the end of March at the latest.

Motivational Quote:  "At the end of the day, you can't have it all. And if you take care of your mental well-being first, the rest will fall into place." ~ Simone Biles (American gymnast)

What I'm Reading:  I'm not reading anything at the moment. I'm going to the library this afternoon to pick a few books that I requested that have come in.

Random Things:  It was cold and snowy over the weekend so after I finished the usual Saturday housework, I did some baking. I made focaccia bread (our new favorite homemade bread) and tried a new recipe for peanut butter muffins. I love peanut butter so I had to try out the recipe. After I finished baking and cleaning up the kitchen, I curled up on the sofa with a book and a cup or two of tea. It was a nice way to spend the weekend.

Random Photo:

                                  Here's how the peanut butter muffins came out. 
 

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  It was a good week. I feel like I made good progress adding more words than I deleted while I worked on revising the first section of Garrett's story. 

Motivational Quote:  "Power is the ability to achieve purpose." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. 

What I'm Reading:  I started reading The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer yesterday afternoon. I haven't read anything by Ms. Thayer before.  

Random Things:  The quote above seemed really appropriate after last week. I used my power to get things done especially since I think I have a case of the winter blues. I didn't feel like doing anything but cuddling on the sofa with a book and a blanket and one of the cats last week. Despite feeling like that, I still made writing or I should say revising Garrett's book a priority and of course doing the every day things that life requires (cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping). Once I finished everything that needed to be done, then I indulged my desire to lounge on the sofa. I'm hoping this feeling of not wanting to do anything passes soon. 

Random Photo:

                                 I hope you had a fun and happy Valentine's Day

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I found a solution to a major plot point problem in Garrett's book. It'll require significant rewriting but I think it'll make the conflict between him and Dotty (the female main character) a lot stronger. I didn't get much editing done but still feel like the week was productive. Now that I know how to fix the big plot issue, I'm hoping the rewriting will go much quicker.

Motivational Quote:  Allow yourself to be human. Look around you. Celebrate the little wins. Accept the downfalls with as much grace as you can muster. ~ Molly Burford (American writer)

What I'm Reading:  I didn't read much of Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey last week. It wasn't a book for me. I'm currently reading The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros. This is the fifth and final book in her Flight & Glory series. I should finish it this evening.

Random Things:  Most people in my area were disappointed that the groundhog saw his shadow on Feb. 2nd. Yes, I'm as tired of winter as everyone else, but it didn't matter to me whether the groundhog saw his shadow or not. We always have at least six more weeks of winter. Winter has never ended in February in my area. We're lucky if winter is over by mid-April or early May.

Random Photo:

  Mrs. Green was fascinated with the rotating circle of white dots during a Windows update
 

 

Monday Check In

 No post today. It's been a week. I sure hope the groundhog doesn't see his shadow.

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I've completed the edits for the first 65 pages or so of Garrett's story. I've hit the point where the first of the major rewrites will take place to close the gaping plot hole I found during my read through of the entire manuscript. I'm not certain how much writing I'll get done as there are a number of appointments this week. 

Motivational Quote:  "You get to pick what your life has time and room for. Be discerning." ~ Taylor Swift

What I'm Reading:  I'm going to start reading Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey this evening. The book has an interesting premise so we'll see how it goes. I've never read anything by Ms. Posey so I don't know what to expect.

Random Things:  I signed up for a class on hand lettering. I always wanted to learn calligraphy. The class will teach a much more basic form of it. I'm hoping with consistent practice I'll be able to master it enough to use on my handmade holiday and birthday cards instead of always relying on a stamped sentiment. 

Random Photo:

I'm not sure which thing Mrs. Green was happier about - that the Chewy order with her treats arrived or that she had a new box to take over. 
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I didn't make much progress on my revisions of Garrett's story. I found a major plot issue that is going to require major rewriting. I'm torn between leaving it for now and doing the other edits first or doing the edits until I get to the area that will need the complete rewrite then going on to finish the rest of the edits. I'm worried if I do the other things first, then the major rewrite, that the rewrite might cause other things to have to be changed or rewritten as well. I'll have to think about it for a bit, but honestly, it makes more sense to do the big rewrite first then fix/edit anything that comes after that.

Motivational Quote:  "Even if we are busy, we have time for what matters. And when we focus on what matters, we can build the lives we want in the time we've got." ~ Laura Vanderkam (American speaker)

What I'm Reading:  I started reading The Summer that Changed Everything by Brenda Novak on Friday. It wasn't a book I had on my To Be Read list, but I saw it at the library and the cover caught my eye so I added it to the small stack of books I was already going to borrow.  

Random Things:  I came across the motivational quote above in mid-December. It almost seemed as though the Universe was trying to tell me something as I had been complaining to a friend how I never seem to have time to do everything I want to do or need to do without feeling like I'm always falling behind in something. As I mentioned in last week's post, I'm trying to be more intentional in how I spend my time. It's too early to tell if the changes I've made are working as it's only been about 2 weeks, but I am feeling less stressed. 

Random Photo:

I didn't get a chance to post photos of the coffee cup I bought to use in the month of December so I thought I'd post it this week before I put it in the back of the cupboard until next December.

 

Monday Check In

 Welcome to my first Monday Check In of 2026. 

Last week...

Writing Related:  I spent the last week reading through the draft of Garrett's story and making a lot of notes. Leaving it alone for about a month really helped me see what needs fixing. There are some plot holes that need filling, some areas that need fleshing out in terms of description and emotion, a sub-plot that kind of meandered off into nothing, and of course way too many uses of the word "just." It seems to be one of my favorite words to use in my writing. I'm not sure how much time I'll get to work on revisions this week as both my mom and I have doctor appointments, I have a four hour class, and we'll be having family visiting on Thursday that may take up most of the day. 

Motivational Quote:  "We have to believe that we are never too old, never too jaded, and never too broken to take our first steps toward change. We wake up every single day with the ability to start fresh - it is never too late to take advantage of that." ~ Bianca Sparacino (Canadian writer)

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Beyond What is Given by Rebecca Yarros yesterday afternoon. It's the third book in her Flight & Glory series. 

Random Things:  I really want to make good use of my time this year so I'm trying a new to me way of scheduling my day. I'm hoping it'll help keep me on track not only with my writing career goals, but with some projects around the house I'd like to have checked off by June. I'm going to follow the new process for the 1st quarter of the year and see how it goes. It'll be hard to see if the process is working this month as my family has a lot going in January. No slow start to the new year for us but things will slow down drastically in February and March which I'm pretty happy about. Those are the worst of the winter months where I live so I'm fine with not having a million things to do outside the house during that time. 

Random Photo

One of my sisters gave me this coffee cup as a gift. I think applies to reading and when I'm writing and have to stop for one reason or another while the words are flowing. 
 

 

Monday Check In (Sort Of)

Happy New Year!

I'm doing a short post this week as I didn't get anything writing related done last week. I spent most of last week celebrating Christmas with various family members and their families. I have five siblings and twenty-three nieces and nephews so it's impossible to see everyone on Christmas day or even the few days afterward.  

Now that the multiple Christmas celebrations are over, I'll be getting back to my usual routines which will include writing and editing/revising so next Monday's check in post will be back to normal. 

I hope you have a good week

Katherine