Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: Nothing really new to report here. I'm still working on revisions and edits for Mississippi's story.

Motivational Quote: "Stand back. Stand back, far enough so you can see your own mountaintop, then head straight for it knowing it will disappear from sight for most of your life as you meander the hidden forest trails that lift you ever higher even as sections force you to drop down into the mountainside pockets of disappointment or even despair...but you will be climbing again soon enough." ~ Arno Rafael Minkkinen

What I'm Reading: I started reading Second Shot by Cindy Dees in the middle of last week. I'm enjoying it so far, but I'm less than one hundred pages in because I keep falling asleep while I'm trying to read when I go to bed.

Random Things: It's supposed to be significantly cooler this coming week. While I'm looking forward to do some baking now that it won't be too hot to put the oven on, I am dreading the coming end of summer. 

Random Photo:

A picture of the blueberry muffins I made last spring when it was still cool enough to put the oven on. I'll probably make zucchini bread or muffins when I bake this week because my brother gave us a bunch of zucchini from his garden.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: Still working on revisions and edits for Mississippi's story. I'm hoping to have them finished by September 1st so I can send them back to my beta readers and editor to have them give the changes a once over. 

Motivational Quote: "Action is what separates the doers from the dreamers." ~ Lennox Lewis

What I'm Reading: I finished the book I was reading last night so I'll most likely start a new one tonight. We went to the library last Friday afternoon so I'll need to decide which of the books I borrowed to read first.

Random Things: I'm considering having the covers of Honor Bound and Promises to Keep redone. I'm looking at different companies/cover artists but haven't settled on one yet. If you know of a good cover artist that is reasonably priced, feel free to reach out to me at Katherineg425@yahoo.com. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Random Photo:

                                           Mrs Green checking on her brother.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I'm working away on revisions and trying to fix that sagging middle problem in Mississippi's story. I feel like I made some good headway, but there's still a lot the needs to be done.

Motivational Quote: "If we want to transform our reality, we begin with ourselves." ~ Alejandro Jodorowsky

What I'm Reading: I started reading Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag yesterday afternoon. I picked it up from a new Little Library in my neighborhood. I read quite a few books by Ms. Hoag years ago so when I saw this one, I couldn't resist taking it home. Once I'm finished, I'll put it back in the Little Library along with a couple of contributions of my own.

Random Things: Ugh! The leaves are starting to fall from my neighbor's tree already. The leaves are small and blow around quite a bit. I don't mind so much that they fall in my yard, it's that they are starting to fall already. It's only the middle of August. I'm hoping that's not a sign that it's going to be a harsh winter in terms of snowfall. 

Random Photo: 

My sister shared a Boston Cream pie cake she purchased with us. I'd never had it before. It was pretty good, but I prefer the Boston Cream doughnut version.
  

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I heard back from my beta readers and editor on Mississippi's story. It was all good feedback but...Eek! It seems the story suffers from a sagging middle. I have quite a bit of rewriting and editing to do so the middle doesn't slow the pace down like it apparently does now. Other than the first part of the middle section dragging and a few minor tweaks such as adding a bit more description in some scenes and changing a couple of areas where there's more telling than showing, the manuscript seems to be in good shape over all. 

Motivational Quote: "Yes, I am optimistic, but one must go through a long period of purgatory." ~ Eugene Ionesco. For the most part, I try to keep an optimistic outlook, but some days it's harder than others. 😀

What I'm Reading: I still reading Second Chance Spring by JoAnn Ross. I set it aside to read A Little Ray of Sunshine by Kristan Higgins which I'd had on hold at my local library for weeks. When I was notified the book was available for me to borrow/pick up, I knew I'd need to read it asap because other people were waiting to borrow it and I wouldn't be able to renew it if I didn't have it done by the time it was due back.

Random Things:  It's time for school supply sales. While I don't have anyone in school, I shop the school supply sales to stock up on index cards, pens, one subject spiral notebooks, composition books, and Post-It notes. I use these items all year long in my writing, so I pick them up at the cheaper prices while I can. In my area right now, one subject notebooks are on sale for 25 cents. Packages of plain white index cards are on sale for the same price. Composition books are on sale for 50 cents. Can't beat those prices. 

Random Photo:

 

A miniature sunflower that I grew in a pot from a seed. I'm really happy about it. I don't usually have good luck growing flowers in pots.