Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I should receive the feedback from my beta readers and editor this week for Mississippi's story. Keeping my fingers crossed that book doesn't need a lot of work. 

Motivational Quote: "Don't get stuck waiting for results...take the next tiny step towards your larger goals." ~ Shailja Patel

What I'm Reading: I just started Second Chance Spring by JoAnn Ross. It's the fourth book in the Honeymoon Harbor series. I haven't read any of the other books in the series but the person who recommended the book to me assured me that the book can be read as a standalone. 

Random Things: I came across the above quote a few days ago. Given that I'm in a holding pattern while I wait for the feedback on Mississippi's story, the quote seemed really appropriate. Besides working on the back cover copy and title, I've been making notes on the next book I want to write.

Random Photo:

      Somebody trying to find a cool spot during the heat and high humidity we've been having.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I'm still wrestling with the blurb (or back cover copy) for Mississippi's story. I feel like it's missing something that I can't seem to put my finger on. I'm still trying to settle on a title as well. Every one I come up with doesn't seem quite right.

Motivational Quote: "There is no such thing as getting something easy. Trust and believe." ~ Leslie Jones

What I'm Reading: I've just started Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez. It's the second book in the Part of Your World series. I loved the first book so am looking forward to reading this one. 

Random Things: It's going to hot and humid this week (again) so I bought the ingredients to make Sunflower ice cream. I have a Cuisinart ice cream maker that I haven't used in a couple of years so I figured I'd put it to use and enjoy a refreshing treat on these hot summer days.

Random Photo:

Isn't this the cutest picture? I just want to boop its nose. (The photo is courtesy of the Go Awesome Animals Facebook page.)
 

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I've been working on the blurb (or back cover copy) for Mississippi's story. Sometimes I think it's harder to write the 120 to 150 word blurb  than it is to write the book. I also need to settle on a title sooner rather than later.

Motivational Quote: "The main determinant of today's outcome will be your will. Your ability or inability to accomplish a thing is defined only by your determination to do so." ~ Unknown

What I'm Reading: I'm still working on getting through Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter. 

Random Things: I usually give a book the first fifty to seventy-five pages and if I still can't get into it, I DNF (did not finish) it and go on to the next book. My mom will stick it out and read every book she starts whether she likes it or not. I have too many books on my TBR list to spend time on a book that I'm not enjoying. That being said, I am determined to read Girl, Forgotten instead of setting it aside and moving on to something else.

Random Photo:

 

Every now and then Somebody likes to play peek-a-boo by hiding under his cat scratcher.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I managed to get Mississippi's story out to my editor and beta readers by my self imposed deadline of July 3rd. The draft isn't as clean as it usually is when I send it out. I'm hoping they don't find a lot of things that need reworking/rewriting. 

Motivational Quote: "You can achieve anything in life. It just depends on how desperate you are to achieve it." ~ Milkha Singh

What I'm Reading: I'm struggling to read Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter. It's the second book in the Andrea Oliver series. I love the Will Trent series, so I thought I'd give this series a try. This book seems slow to get started. Admittedly, I'm only on page 45, but so far, other than the prologue, it's been more of a rehash of what happened in the first book, Pieces of Her, rather than a new story. 

Random Things: I eat a lot of tossed salad in the summer. Usually I'm good about using a reasonable (read "healthy") amount of dressing on my salad. I also try to use low fat dressings so that I'm not negating the health benefits of all the raw vegetables in my salad. Once a year around my mom's birthday (it was last week) I have blue cheese dressing which I love. And because I only eat it once a year, I put so much blue cheese dressing on my salad, you could say my salad is swimming in it. Mmm, delicious, but definitely not healthy. 

Random Photo:

                              This is my favorite brand of blue cheese dressing.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July

(I know, I'm a day early. I hope you and your families have a great holiday.)