Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I worked on Garrett's book last week. I didn't get as much written as I'd hoped, but I should have at least 12k words written by the end of this week. 

Motivational Quote:  "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence." ~ Calvin Coolidge

What I'm Reading:  I started reading The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren yesterday afternoon. I'm also reading Now or Never by Janet Evanovich. This is the 31st book in the Stephanie Plum series. I'll write more about why I'm reading two books at once, which I very rarely do in the Random Thoughts section below.

Random Thoughts:  Regarding Now or Never, I keep picking it up, then putting it down after a couple of chapters and either going to do something else or reading something else because I'm having issues with the main character. I loved this series in the past, but the last few books have dimmed my enthusiasm for it. I just don't like how the Stephanie Plum character doesn't ever seem to learn from her mistakes or show any character growth, not to mention cheating on her boyfriend then excuses it because the guy she's cheating with is so hot that she can't help it.

Random Photo:

                                      How I've been feeling about writing lately. 😉
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Another good writing week last week. I should hit my goal of being at the 30k mark by the end of the month without any issues. 

Motivational Quote: "Inspiration is highly overrated. If you sit around and wait for the clouds to part, it's not liable to ever happen. More often than not, doing the work provides the inspiration." ~ Chuck Close

What I'm Reading:  I'm reading Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich. This is the 30th book in the Stephanie Plum series. I enjoy the series but I really wish the author would decide which man Stephanie is going to be committed to instead of changing between the two main male characters nearly every other book.

Random Thoughts: I set up a Kanban board for the first quarter of this year. I included both writing related and non-writing related things I want to accomplish/do by the end of March. It seems to be working in terms of keeping those things at the forefront of my mind and helping me get things crossed off my never-ending To Do list. But then I've only been using it for two weeks too. 😀

Random Photo:

     How I felt my writing sessions went this week. Most writers can probably identify with this.
 

Monday Check In

Last week:

Writing Related: Still working on the blurb for the 3rd book. I should have the feedback from my beta readers for Promises to Keep by tomorrow. I'm hoping to have any suggested changes/corrections completed by the end of this coming weekend.

Motivational Quote: "Great accomplishments are earned in small gains." ~ Unknown

What I'm Reading: I started reading The Bounty by Janet Evanovich and Steve Hamilton last Friday. It's the 7th book in the Fox and O'Hare series. I didn't read the 6th book but I don't feel lost at all by not reading it before reading this one.

Random Things:  Mrs. Green ventured out on to the back porch for the first time in 3 years. She normally runs in the opposite direction when you open the door. She tried to hide behind the potted plant I keep on the porch and only stayed outside for about 2 minutes before she wanted to go back inside. Meanwhile her brother likes to go out on the back porch as often as possible. Every day when I come home from work, he's waiting at the door to come out. I let him out onto the porch to bask in the sun for a few minutes and then we go inside.

Random Photo: 

                                   Mrs. Green exploring the back porch.
 

Borrow vs. Buy

I read quite a bit, usually whenever I have some free time though lately free time seems to be coming at a premium. I wanted to write that I read a lot, but I set a goal of reading 52 books last year and fell short. I only read 48 books so I can't say I read "a lot." My mom read 94 books so I guess she can say she reads a lot.

I happened to mention to a friend that I was going to the library this past weekend. She looked at me like I'd just said I was going to commit murder. She asked in an astounded tone, "You don't buy the books you read? You're a writer. I can't believe you don't support your fellow authors."

While I do borrow the majority of the books I read from the library or friends and family, I also buy about a third of them. It would be next to impossible for me to buy all the books I want to read. I do occasionally buy a new to me author especially if the author and/or book has been recommended to me by a friend or family member. For example a friend raved over the Brooklyn Bruisers Series by Sarina Bowen. I borrowed the first book from the friend, purchased both the first and second books, and when the third book came out, I purchased that as well. I do plan on looking into other books written by Ms. Bowen, but unless they grab me like the Brooklyn Bruisers series did, I most likely will borrow them from the library.

Most of the books I do purchase are automatic buys by certain authors. Whenever these authors release a new book, I don't even have to know what the book is about. I make a trip to Barnes & Noble or hop online to Amazon to buy that latest book.

Some of my auto buy authors are Susan Mallery, Kristan Higgins, Laura Trentham, Jill Shalvis, Sarah MacLean, Lisa Kleypas, Laura Lee Guhrke, Laura Griffin, the Charlie Davidson series by Darynda Jones, and the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.

Do you utilize your local library or do you purchase the majority of the books you read? What are some of your automatic buy authors?

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress):  Currently on hiatus until after the new year.

Quote of the Week: “It’s impossible to complete a race if you don’t make it to the starting line.”~ Unknown

What I'm reading: I received Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich for Christmas. My sister wants to read it when I'm finished so I started it last night.

Random Things:  I'm spending time thinking about the things I want to accomplish in 2017 and how I'll meet goals that I'll set. It's hard to believe this is the last week of 2016. The year seemed to fly by.

Random Photo of the Week: 

         Somebody sat on the chair and watched my mom make a pie for the holiday.  

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress): Not much accomplished. I worked extra hours at the day job last week.

Quote of the Week:  “You can’t live your dreams and your fear at the same time. Furthermore, if you’re not living your dream, consider that you may be letting fear win.” ~ Unknown

What I'm reading:  I finally finished the Sarah MacLean book I was reading. I've just started Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton

Random Things:  I've decided to do handmade Christmas cards this year. I haven't made any in the fast 6 years or so, but have been inspired by some of the cards I've seen posted online by other paper crafters. I don't send out very many so I should be able to get them made and sent by the second week of December.

Random Photo of the Week: 

                                Somebody's all tucked in and ready for winter.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress):  Had unexpected guests from out of town so I haven't had much time to work on revisions. I hope to make up some of the lost time the rest of this week.

Quote of the Week: "Don't ruin a good today by thinking about a bad yesterday. Let it go." ~ Unknown.  I need to work on this.

What I'm reading: The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. I like this series because it's a light, quick read.
 
Random things:  My older sister took me to our local library on Monday. I'd read all of the books I'd purchased before my surgery and was complaining I had nothing to read. Mind you, I have more books on my Kindle than I care to admit so that wasn't exactly true. While I was more than ready to rest and take some pain medication by the time we got back, I'm glad she talked me into going. It was nice to get out of the house for something other than a doctor appointment.

Random Photo of the Week:

                     Only 3 more weeks and I can get rid of my unwanted summer accessory.