Merry Christmas

 I know I'm a few days late, but I hope you and your loved ones had a wonder Christmas.

Here's to the upcoming new year. I hope everyone has a great 2022!

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: Still working on revisions and edits for Ivan's story. Unfortunately, I didn't get a lot done last week. I ended up having to work late a few nights and then had to run out and do the last of my holiday gift shopping. 

Motivational Quote: "You can begin again now. Any moment is a valid starting point for doing the thing you want to do and being who you want to be." ~ Unknown

What I'm Reading: I'm reading Wrong Alibi by Christina Dodd. It's the first book in the Murder in Alaska series.

Random Things: I still haven't made gingerbread yet, but I'm determined to make it this year. I've been wanting to do it for a few years now, but never seem to be able to squeeze it in with all of my other holiday baking. 

Random Photo:

                                            Mrs. Green playing hide and seek.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I'm still working on revisions and edits for Ivan's story. It's getting harder to get a decent amount done on a daily basis now that holiday responsibilities are ramping up. That must be why I usually take every December off from writing. It's really hard to get writing stuff accomplished when holiday related items take up a lot of my free and writing time.

Motivational Quote: "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." ~ Maya Angelou

What I'm Reading: I started reading Bombshell by Sarah MacLean, the first in the Hells Bells series, in the middle of last week. I'm still reading it because I don't have a lot of free time. I've been trying to squeeze in fifteen or twenty minutes each night before I turn the light out and go to sleep. 

Random Things: Last week in this section I mentioned that I was going to make gingerbread. I didn't end up making it because I didn't realize I didn't have enough molasses. I'm going to make it this week. I made brown sugar cinnamon cookies instead because I had some coconut oil I wanted to use up. 

Random Photo:

                  Here's a photo of the brown sugar cinnamon cookies I mentioned above.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I'm still working on revisions and edits for Ivan's story. I was hoping to have the final revised version to my beta readers by the end of last week. That didn't happen. I had some unexpected things pop up that killed a lot of my writing time. I'm working as hard as I can to get the revisions finished and the book to my betas asap. I hate that I didn't get everything finished in November as originally planned.

Motivational Quote: "Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong." ~ Ella Fitzgerald

What I'm Reading: I'm not currently reading anything right now. I'm trying to use as much of my available free time as I can to get the revisions on Ivan's story finished.

Random Things: Sometime this week, I'll be making gingerbread for the very first time. Gingerbread seems to be such an integral part of the Christmas holiday season that I've always wanted to try to make it. Next week I'll let you know how it turned out.

Random Photo:

 I ordered some office supplies and everything came in one box except this item. It came in a giant box all by itself with a bunch of bubble wrap. It's so small you'd think they could have fit it into the box with the other supplies. 

Happy Hanukkah

 

                      Wishing everyone who celebrates the holiday a Happy Hanukkah.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I'm still working on revisions and edits for Ivan's story. I'm hoping to have them completed and the book out to my beta readers by the end of the first week of December. 

Motivational Quote: "I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope." ~ Rosa Parks. I'm repeating last week's quote because there were a few times last week when staying optimistic was harder than I expected it to be.

What I'm Reading: I'm reading Total Surrender by Rebecca Zanetti. It's the fourth and last book in the Sin Brothers series.

Random Things: It's the start of baking season. Besides the usual cookies and other treats I usually bake around the holidays, I have a number of different bread and muffin recipes that I want to try.

Random Photo:

 Mrs. Green likes to cuddle against my pillow and among my blankets when I get out of bed.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I'm still working on revisions for Ivan's story. I found a couple of plot holes that need filling. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I'll have Ivan's story ready to be published in November.

Motivational Quote: "I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope." ~ Rosa Parks

What I'm Reading: I'm reading Sweet Revenge by Rebecca Zanetti. It's the second book in the Sin Brothers series.

Random Things: I don't do any yarn crafting in the summer, but am looking forward to working on a new project. I've started crocheting a new blanket. It's made of separate panels that are then sewn together. I only have one panel done so far.

Random Photo:  

                          Somebody exploring the tunnel under his scratching bench.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I'm still working on revisions for Ivan's story. I hope to have everything finished by the end of next week.

Motivational Quote: "Don’t be afraid to dream big. You have time to make this happen. Think long term. It’s all doable with a good plan." ~ Unknown

What I'm Reading: I'll be starting Pane and Suffering by Cheryl Hollon tonight. It's the first book in the Webb's Glass Shop Mystery series. I haven't read anything by this author before so I'm looking forward to starting it.

Random Things: Following the advice given by nearly every news type program, I started my holiday gift shopping last weekend. We placed a large order through Amazon and I was prepared to wait a while for the items to be delivered as shipping delays have been in the news for weeks now. Surprisingly, we received our entire order two days after we ordered and we're not even Amazon Prime members. I hope when we purchase the remainder of our gifts that the delivery is just as quick.

Random Photo: 

For Halloween this year my nephew was the Mayor of Halloween Town from The Nightmare Before Christmas. He's fascinated with the movie.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I started the process of revisions for Ivan's story last week. I'm hoping it will take about 3 weeks so I get the book out to my beta readers. 

Motivational Quote: "What matters most in life is good health and a good night's sleep." ~ Waheeda Rehman

What I'm Reading: I started Mocha, She Wrote by Ellie Alexander last night. It's the 13th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. I really enjoy reading this series.

Random Things: I picked the motivational quote this week because I really do believe good health makes all the difference in the quality of one's life. As a writer, I'm more sedentary than I should be. I sit at my day job and then I come home and sit while I write. I try to exercise at least 30 minutes at least 4 days a week, but I'm not always successful. The best one can do is try.

Random Photo:

                   Happy Halloween! (This skull was in an exam room at my doctor's office.)

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I only managed to get fifteen pages of new material written for Ivan's story. My mom and I both had a couple of appointments that ate into my writing time. I'm trying hard this week to write as much as I can this week to make up the the deficit. 

Motivational Quote: "Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently." ~ Unknown

What I'm Reading: I finished reading Twisted Truths by Rebecca Zanetti yesterday afternoon. It's the third and final book in the Blood Brothers series. 

Random Things:  I went to the library Friday after work and came home with too many books. Although I also feel there is no such thing as having too many books to read. It just might be hard to get them all read within the three week borrowing period. It's a good thing my local library lets you renew them twice before they have to be returned.

Random Photo:

                       It's finally been cool enough to bake so I made blueberry muffins.

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I wrote 25 pages for Ivan's story and reworked the summary/blurb for the first book in the Echo Company series. 

Motivational Quote: "We have no guarantee about the future, but we exist in the hope of something better." ~ The 14th Dalai Lama

What I'm Reading: I started reading Lethal Lies by Rebecca Zanetti yesterday. This is the second book in the Blood Brothers series.

Random Things: It's been unusually warm so far this fall especially this month so far with temperatures in the mid to high 70's and bright sunny days. This week the weather is supposed to become cooler and be more October-like. I'm not sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I'm loving the warm weather, but at the same time, I'm looking forward to the cooler temperatures so I can start baking again.

Random Photo:

                                        Mrs. Green and her very own yoga mat.
  

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I wrote 160 pages total in the month of September for Ivan's story. It's the most I've ever written in one month. I'll finish writing the story this month. I'm thinking I'll need to write about another 75 to 100 pages at the most to tie all story threads up which will bring it to around 375 pages total. 

Motivational Quote: "Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work." ~ Bette Davis  

What I'm Reading: I started Devil In Disguise by Lisa Kleypas. It's the seventh book in the Ravenels series. I think I've only read the second book in the series so I'm hoping I don't feel lost.

Random Things:  I chose the above quote because I set myself a goal of writing 175 pages in the month of September. About week into the month, I really did feel like I was attempting the impossible, but I stuck with it. I didn't make the goal. I was 15 pages short, but I still feel a huge sense of accomplishment in getting 160 pages written last month.

Random Things #2:

Honor Bound, the first book in my Echo Company series, received a 5 star review from The TBR Pile. Here's the link if you want to check it out - Honor Bound TBR Pile Review

 

Please Welcome My Guest

 

Please welcome my guest,Author CJ Bahr.  

First published in Marion Zimmer Bradley's "Sword & Sorceress" anthology, C J was bitten by the writer's bug and hasn't stopped since. The Wild Rose Press published her award-winning first novel, "Walking Through Fire"— a Scottish ghost romance. She is currently working on the fourth book in the interconnected standalone series, The Fire Chronicles, as well as a new Urban Fantasy starring a kick-ass Time Enforcer.

When her pen isn't scribing, you can find her busily cutting and tracking music for film and television.  With over thirty years of music editing experience, her credits range from "Northern Exposure" and "The Muppets Christmas Carol", to "The Kill Point", "The Following", and ABC’s hit comedy, "The Middle".

In her downtime, you’ll find her curled up with a cup of tea, her cats and a great book in Tarzana, California.

Now on to the Interview:

Tell us something about yourself both writing and non-writing related.

I write to movie/tv soundtracks, nothing with lyrics. It’s like I score the scenes I’m writing. So, for instance, if creating an action scene I might listen to “The Italian Job” or “The Transformers”. This habit comes from my day job as a music editor for film and television. I help put music into shows working closely with composers, producers and directors.

Do you have a writing routine or ritual that you do before you start writing?

No routine for me. As I am a panster and not a plotter, so goes my writing. I really should get more structured, it would probably make me much more productive. But what I do when I do start writing, is open up my iTunes and select the music for the scenes of the day.

Why do you write in the genre/sub-genre that you do?Any plans in the future to write in a different one?  

 I write paranormal romance, supernatural suspense and fantasy. When reading I like to escape, so I like to give the same to my readers, giving them a little magic with a dark taste. I started reading contemporary Billionaire romances and find them fun. Maybe one day I’ll try my hand in that genre.

How do you stay motivated when writer’s block hits or your muse won’t cooperate? 

Writer’s block sucks. I find sometimes jumping to another WIP or think of other ideas for novels, gets me out of a rut. And if the blinking cursor on a blank page gets me crazy, I’ll go old school and write with pen and paper. Sometime changing it up, gets my brain going.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research? 

My supernatural suspense, Valley Fever, the showdown takes place at a nuclear power plant. Since there’s an old plant south of me, I tried to get a personal tour, but no joy. Even if the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant isn’t functioning, the security still is!

What’s the best writing advice you were ever given? 

Never give up and always keep writing. My first sale happened in my 20’s. I didn’t sell again until my late 40’s. Now I have six books to my name. Don’t let your dream die. You can do it.

What do you like to do in your leisure time? 

Read. I’m a total bookworm. Also, being from Southern California, there’s ton of things to do with friends—the Hollywood Bowl, the beach, mountains for hiking and of course, the wineries.

Tell us about your current or upcoming release in a couple of sentences. 

My most recent release is Redeemed By Fire, which is the third book in my Fire Chronicles series. The seven book series are stand alones, so you can leap into the fire at any time. Redeemed By Fire is a paranormal romance set in contemporary New Orleans, with a supernatural serial killer stalking the streets of the French Quarter.

Can you tell us a little about your next project? 

Currently I’m plotting book 4 in The Fire Chronicles, while finishing the first book in a new series starring a kick-ass female time cop.

Anything else you’d like readers to know?

Please consider leaving reviews for the books you read. It doesn’t have to be a missive. It could be a simple single sentence. Reviews help readers find new authors and keep writers writing.

Blurb:

Cassanne Thomas returns to New Orleans to start her life over and becomes the target of a supernatural serial killer. Escaping her close call with death, Casi is the only witness to the crime and finds herself placed in protected custody by a handsome Cajun detective. But with her dark, troubled past, trusting the police is the last thing she wants to do.

Detective Lucas Avery, the top homicide detective in NOLA, is unaware of the supernatural world surrounding him. With the killer stalking the streets, he vows to shield the beautiful, enigmatic, Casi with his life while fighting his growing attraction to her. He's been burned before.

Danger chases Lucas and Casi from the streets of the French Quarter to the wilds of the bayou. Will they be able to stop a monster, straight out of a nightmare or become victims themselves?

 

Excerpt:

Casi screamed and covered her ears, though too late. The loud boom made her ears ring. Who was shooting at them? She tried to see, but Luc’s weight had her effectively pinned. Squealing tires along with a string of Cajun curses from Luc, had Casi guessing the shooter had fled.

 Luc holstered his weapon when Casi spotted the blood dripping off his arm.

 “Oh my God!” She pushed at him. “Let me up. You’re hurt. You’re bleeding!”

 Luc rolled off her and did as she asked, while gripping his thigh with both hands. Her gaze left his arm drawn to the blood oozing out between his fingers. The thigh wound appeared much more serious. She tugged her phone out and quickly dialed 911. But before it connected, Luc’s bloody fingers grabbed her phone and disconnected the call.

 “We can’t call this in.” Luc exhaled harshly and gritted his teeth as once again, he applied pressure to his leg.

 “You’re shot. You’re bleeding from multiple places. We need an ambulance!”

 He shook his head. “Can’t. We need to leave. Now.”

 

Wow, that's a great excerpt, don't you think? You can pick up a copy by clicking on the universal buy link below.

Universal Buy Links: https://www.cjbahr.com/books/

 

Social Media Links:

Website/Newsletter:  https://cjbahr.com

Twitter: @cjbahr  https://twitter.com/cjbahr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bahrcj

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjbahr.author/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9828572.C_J_Bahr

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-j-bahr

Amazon Author: https://tinyurl.com/y7jmpqdg