Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I went through each chapter and wrote the important plot points and what interactions the two main characters had on index cards. It made it easier to see that the emotional connection/romance between the two characters is lacking. I wrote out notes for each chapter that I hope will fix the issue. I also wrote notes to tighten up the plot and the main female character's conflict. I'll start revisions using the index cards and notes this morning.

Motivational Quote:  "Don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses. Just do the best you can. Nobody can do more than that." ~ John Wooden (American basketball coach quoting his father)

What I'm Reading:  I'm not currently reading anything. I requested The Steps (Sylvester Stallone's memoir) through our county's inter-library loan system. I received a notice that it's in transit to my local library so I'm hoping it'll be ready for me to pick it up tomorrow or Wednesday. Once I do, I'll be reading it the remainder of the week.

Random Things:  I don't really watch any sports other than the Olympics but I came across the above motivational quote a few days after I got the feedback on Garrett's book from my editor and beta readers. I wanted to whine and complain and I probably did for a few days. Laughs. But I knew if I wanted this book to be the best it could possibly be, I'd have to do the hard work of figuring out how to fix it and to do the work to make it a story people would want to read and would enjoy. Sometimes I think the universe puts these quotes in my path right when I need to see/read them the most.

Random Photo:

I bought a new planning notebook. It's the 6 ring binder type so I can reuse it instead of buying a new planning notebook or journal for each book. 
 

 

Monday Check In

 Sorry, no post this week.

 

                      If you celebrate Halloween, I hope you have a fun and safe one. 

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I received the feedback on Garrett's book from my beta readers and editor. The good thing is they all like the story and characters. The bad thing is that every single one of them feels there's not enough romance. Considering this is a romance novel, that's a big problem. My editor in particular mentioned that the book seems to be missing the emotional connection between the main male and main female characters. I've tried not panic though I might not have been successful. I'm taking this week to go through all of the comments I received from my beta readers and all the comments and questions and suggestions from my editor. I'm hoping by reviewing all of that, I'll see a way to fix or add the missing emotional component. I really, really do not want to scrap this draft and start all over from the beginning.

Motivational Quote:  "The truth is that nothing is impossible. So, you must dream, you have to believe in yourself." ~ Halima Aden (Somali and American model)

What I'm Reading:  I'm currently reading Grim Tidings by B.K. Borison. I should finish it this evening. This is the 2nd book in her Ghosted series. I didn't read the first book in the series and am not feeling as though I missed something by not reading it. I think this book could almost be a stand alone novel.

Random Things:  I'm still working on making a decent loaf of sourdough bread. My first loaf came out okay. It didn't have that distinctive sourdough tang though. My second attempt was a complete disaster. I used a different recipe that was very labor intensive - it was a 3 day process starting with mixing the dough on the first day all the way through to baking it on the third day. The dough felt tough with all the constant handling of it (folding it once an hour for six hours on the second day alone) by the time I did the last shaping and put it on the pan to bake. It didn't really brown and the exterior crust was hard to cut through. You literally almost had to saw through it with the bread knife. But the interior was surprisingly soft and it wasn't dense at all. I'll be making my third attempt later this week. And I will be using yet another different recipe. Fingers crossed the third time will be the charm and this loaf will come out perfect.

Random Photo:

 A few of the chocolate brownie muffins I made to cheer myself up after my sourdough baking disaster. The recipe for the chocolate brownie muffins makes 12 muffins so I split them up into containers of four and froze them because they taste so good - really just like a brownie except in muffin form - that I'd probably eat the majority of them since as most of you know, homemade brownies are my weakness. 

 

  

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Not doing much writing related right now as I'm waiting for feedback on Garrett's story from my beta readers and editor. i should start hearing from them by the end of this week. I am starting to do some very basic plotting on what will be the second book in the Eden's Crossing series.

Motivational Quote:  "I used to be terrified of making mistakes and now I realize that if I make one, there's a lot of respect to be earned for throwing yourself 100 percent into something." ~ Jessica Chastain (American actor)

What I'm Reading:  I just finished reading Big Stick Energy by Sarina Bowen. This is the second book in her New York Legends series. If you enjoy hockey romance, Sarina Bowen is one of the best authors writing it right now.

Random Things:  I went to my great-niece's 2nd birthday party last weekend. How is it that nearly all of my nieces and nephews are old enough to get married and start families of their own? It seems like just a few years ago, they were toddlers or starting school. It's enough to make me start feeling old. 😄

Random Photo:  

I came across these two cuties while I was out shopping for a gift for the birthday girl mentioned above. I did buy them. Did I buy them for her? No, I bought them for myself. LOL. I guess you never outgrow the need for a cute and cuddly plushie. 
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I'm not really doing too much writing related. I'm waiting for feedback from my beta readers and editor. It will probably be another week before I hear from any of them.

Motivational Quote:  "Don't stress out thinking about what's the next step? What's the plan? What am I doing next?...I feel like sometimes I don't enjoy the present moment and what's happening in my life right now because I'm always thinking, where am I going to be? What am I going to do?" ~ Nailea Devora (American comedian)

What I'm Reading:  I just finished The Me I Used to Be by Kristan Higgins. This is a stand alone women's fiction novel. I really enjoyed this book. The end made me a bit teary which is always a sign of a good book for me. If I can identify with the character(s) so much that I get teary over what they're going through then the author has done a great job writing the story. 

Random Things:  I can't believe we're starting the first full week of October already. It seems like it was just May. While I'm looking forward to autumn and the cooler weather and changing of the leaves, I'm feeling a bit anxious that there are only about 3 months left in the year. I still have a lot of things I'd like to get accomplished by the end of 2026 and less than 90 days to get them done. 

Random Photo:

My first attempt at making sourdough chocolate chip cookies. They came out pretty well. I'd definitely make them again.. 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I'm a touch behind schedule. I wanted to send the revised draft of Garrett's story to my editor over the weekend. I'll be doing that today instead. I'm also sending it to a few of my beta readers to get their thoughts and feedback as well. 

Motivational Quote:  "Be true to who you are. Being somebody you are not is exhausting." ~ Hope Solo (American soccer player)

What I'm Reading:  I'm currently reading The Whisking Hour by Ellie Alexander but should finish it this evening. It's the 22nd  book in Ms. Alexander's Bakeshop Mystery series. If you like cozy mysteries that include recipes, this is a great series. 

Random Things:  It's finally getting cool enough to bake. The weather is supposed to be in the mid to low 60's for the majority of this week. I've pulled out all my bread and cookie recipes. Now the problem is trying to decide what to make first. One of my nieces gave me some of her sourdough starter a few months ago that I've been feeding every couple of weeks to keep it viable so I definitely want to try making sourdough bread for the first time. I also want to make chocolate Babka. Maybe some oatmeal cranberry cookies. I'm not a fan of raisins so I use dried cranberries instead. Of course, I'll be making focaccia. That goes without saying. So many things to bake and so little time. 

Random Photo:

Chocolate white chocolate  chip cookies I made last weekend despite it being in the 70's. I made them as a thank you for one of my nephews who did a huge favor for me but wouldn't let me pay him for his time and trouble.