Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  It's been a busy couple of weeks but I've still managed to make progress on Garrett's book. I'd say I'm about two-thirds of the way through edits for the book, maybe a little less. I'm still on track to be finished by 4/4 unless something unexpected crops up. And given the way the last 2 weeks have gone, that's entirely possible.

Motivational Quote:  "The greatest relationship, the greatest one you will ever have is with yourself. Believe me. Have faith in yourself." ~ Sheryl Lee Ralph (American actress)

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Free Falling by Jill Shalvis Saturday evening. This is the 2nd book in her Colburn Brothers series.  

Random Things:  I made Ciambellone (an Italian citrus cake) for the first time just over a week ago now. You can make it with lemons, limes, or oranges. I used lemons. I've never made a bundt type cake from scratch before. The top of the cake cracked a bit when I tipped it out of the pan but overall I was happy with how it turned out. It had a good lemon flavor but I think it would have better with a lemon glaze. The recipe I was given calls for powdered sugar to be sifted over the top before serving. I would make it again but with a lemon icing or glaze.

Random Photo:

                                                    The Ciambellone that I made.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Nothing writing related last week since I finished the first draft of Garrett's story at the end of November. I'm letting it rest so to speak and will start the editing and revision process in January.

Motivational Quote:  "Fear has a very concrete power of keeping us from doing and saying the things thar are our purpose." ~ Luvvie Ajayi

What I'm Reading:  I'll finish reading He Falls First by Jill Shalvis this evening. This is the first book in her new Colburn Brothers series. 

Random Things:  I still have packages for gifts I ordered online that haven't been delivered yet, but all of the gift shopping is done except to pick up a couple of gift cards which I'm doing this morning. I'm hoping to start wrapping the things that have been delivered sometime this week. I have about 40 gifts that will need to be wrapped plus I help my mom wrap her gifts as well so getting an early start is crucial to ensure everything is wrapped or gift bagged by December 21st when we'll celebrate Christmas with two of my nephews and their families. 

Random Photo:

Mrs. Green also thinks it's the most wonderful time of the year since boxes are arriving almost daily for her to take over sometimes before I can even get the items that were delivered out of the boxes.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I'm still having difficulty with getting much writing done due to my ulnar nerve issue. I'm counting the days until next Monday when I can see the orthopedist and find out what's going on and what treatment he will recommend.

Motivational Quote:  "Your progress is not on a schedule. Your success is not on a time clock. Your healing is not based on speed. You're not too late. You haven't missed it. There is no rush. Breathe." ~ Eso Tolson

What I'm Reading:  I finished reading The Love Fix by Jill Shalvis last night. It's the eighth book in the Sunrise Cove series. I'll pick a new book to read tonight.

Random Thing:  I thought the above quote was particularly appropriate considering I am feeling behind schedule with this book and am worried how long it will take for my nerve to heal so that I can get back to my usual writing schedule. 

Random Photo:

         I've been trying new flavors of iced tea. My sister brought me this one to try.
 

Monday Check In

Writing Related:  I'll start writing the first book in the Eden's Crossing series this morning. I'm using the same plotting method that I used when writing Coming Home. Prior to that book, I didn't really do a lot of plotting, just a couple of sentences for each chapter but the new plotting method worked really well so I'm going to use it for this next book too.

Motivational Quote:  "I mean, I'm human, I have moments. But...when gratitude is an option, I'm going to choose that every time." ~ Anne Hathaway

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis yesterday afternoon. This is the 7th book in the Sunrise Cove series.

Random Thoughts:  I received a copy of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois from a friend because I like baking bread. I'm looking forward to trying the master recipe and a number of the other recipes that were included. Luckily, I have a big freezer to store the extra loaves in.

Random Photo:  

       This is outside at my house. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to spring.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: Good week last week. I'm not sure how much writing I'll get done this week. I have appointments and such going on after work Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I'm also going to lose writing time on Saturday because I'm going to a family gathering. It'll be the first time all of my siblings and their families, my mom, and I will all be together since the pandemic began.

Motivational Quote: "I try my best to tell myself, 'Come on girl. You can do this. You can do this.'" ~ Ryka Aoki

What I'm Reading: I'm reading The Friendship Pact by Jill Shalvis. It's the second book in the Sunrise Cove series. 

Random Things: I always try not to go grocery shopping when I'm hungry because then I invariably buy things not on my list as well as things I should leave on the shelves. The photo below is what happened when I went shopping last week right after work and didn't have time to eat lunch.

Random Photo:

                                    Can you tell cookies are my go to junk food?

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: Still working on revisions/edits for Ivan's story. I'm still on track to get it out to my betas by the end of this month. 

Motivational Quote: "When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go." ~ Carol Burnett

What I'm Reading: I'm taking a short break from reading the Seaside Cafe mystery series by Bree Baker. I only have one book left to read before the last book in the series comes out at the end of this month. Instead I'm reading The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis. This is the first book in the Sunrise Cove series. 

Random Things: Only 25 more days until April 1st. I realize spring officially begins on Sunday, March 20th this year but the weather doesn't get close to spring-like until April or later in my area.

Random Photo:

 I found this impression in the snow at the bottom of my porch stairs. It looks like a bird was trying to make a snow angel.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I received my DBA certificate in the mail last week. Woohoo! I revised the last 60 pages of the book I'm working on now so I'm up to the point I left off writing it. I figure I have about 100 to 140 pages to write before the first draft will be completed. 

Motivational Quote: "It looks easy. But it's not. There's a lot of work and dedication." ~ Usain Bolt

What I'm Reading: I started reading The Forever Girl by Jill Shalvis on Friday. This is the sixth book in the Wildstone series.

Random Things: I came across a huge display of flower and vegetable seeds along with potting soil and little starter pots at the local grocery store. A happy sign that spring is coming. 

Random Photo:

              I did some stress relief baking last week and made cinnamon swirl bread.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): I rewrote my blurb for Honor Bound. Four times. And I'm still not happy with it. I'm going to set it aside for a couple of days and hope one of the versions looks more promising with a few days' distance.

Quote of the Week: "It's always too early to quit." ~ Norman Vincent Peale
 
What I'm Reading: I finished reading "Almost Just Friends" by Jill Shalvis on Monday night. It's the fourth book in the Wildstone series, but works as a stand alone novel so if you haven't read any of the other books in the series, you won't feel lost.

Random Thoughts: I can't believe how fast January went by. Not that I'm complaining. I'm all for getting closer to spring and warm weather as fast as possible. 

Random Photo of the Week:

                   Somebody waiting for the storm that is supposed to arrive tonight.