I'm Not Dead!

Cheese and crackers this past summer has been a process. Neither good nor bad, just...a process. If you haven't guessed from earlier posts, I made some decisions for the better. The goal was to be happier and fix some relationships, and I got so much more than that.

I found out my mama is sick, has been for a while. As much as I wanted to hate her for everything she did to me growing up, I just couldn't do it. We don't know how much longer she has. So I've put everything behind me and stopped being angry with her. I cannot forgive or forget, but I can let it go. I wanted to make sure that she has time with the only grandchild she has. I know she loves her, she would give my Lil Miss her last dollar if she asked (which she probably would). She loves seating at the table and watching Lil Miss cut out strips of paper to build a railroad, or color pictures, or play hide & seek. It makes Mama happy, therefore, it makes me happy.

The most important thing about forging my own path was for my marriage. Sometimes we get so set in our ways we don't see the walls of our homes crumbling down. The roof was gone, the rain pouring in. So I left, and started a new home. I am very happy to say that my husband joined me in this new house. We're still working out problems, but now we're working together, instead of just living in the same house.

And what of the writing career (The whole purpose of this blog!)?

Well, it's getting there. I'm still writing, just not as much. I dedicate three, maybe four, hours a day to nothing but writing. In the morning I'm with Lil Miss and in the evening my husband is home and we spend family time and together time then. Once everyone goes to bed (they have an 8:00 pm bedtime, early work-shifts
), I get to sit alone in the dark at my desk, writing.

I work this way so that I don't take time away from either of them. If I ever sit down to write when they're around nothing ever gets done. Lil Miss wants to play or ask a thousand questions, Hubby needs help finding this or that, asks my opinions on a kitchen island I desperately want (hopefully I'll get it for Christmas, handmade by the hubby), or someone just wants to cuddle.

The writing career is going slowly, but I haven't stopped. As we speak I am on draft 8 (yes EIGHT) of Legacy. Things there are going swimmingly, although I giggle like a little schoolgirl when I get to, eh-hm, certain scenes.
(I just giggled thinking about it. There is definitely something wrong with me.)
Crystallised is coming along even more slowly. I've changed a few things around and now the first draft is half done. My Tutore series is even further away from where I hoped it would be. For the first book I ever actually sat down to write (and never got further than the first chapter) it is definitely taking a lot of time to get to the end of step one.

That's it. That's my life up to to this point. Besides not having internet and keeping me from talking to all you wonderful, I'm content. Happy.

That was the goal for all this.

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Just a Regular Day in the Life

I've been online now, officially, for a little while now, just a few weeks, months. I've shared with you my day to day life, even though it's mundane, and my writing adventures, no matter how singular they may seem.

But what I haven't told you is what I really want to do. I want to write. (Duh)

I want to write books, I want to get them published and share my stories with the world. And how do I do that? How can you do that?


Write. Write. Write.

You can find it everywhere: advice on how to write, what to do & what not to do, tips and tricks. "Write what you know." "The hardest part of writing is the first sentence."

Trust me, I've seen it, done it, dove head first into it. I'm going to be swimming in this business for the rest of my life as it changes everyday. And I am so happy to be doing it.

The best way to learn how to write IS to write. And I will be writing what I know. I'll be working on my projects. I'll be writing these blog posts so you can follow along with me. And I'll be doing something I've been doing in my head for years: book reviewing.

Sure, there are hundreds of reviewers all over the world. Genre specialists, the eclectic reader, etc., etc. I would be categorized as the eclectic reader. I'll read anything from Patricia C. Wrede's Dealing with Dragons to JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Seriously, my library is filled with books I read and loved in the sixth grade to books I've read picked up for free through Bookperk.

I've read books to enjoy them and get out of my own head, I've read books because they are everywhere on my Tumblr feed. I've read books because no one has heard of them or because everyone has heard of them. There are a few I could only skim, and even less that I couldn't even finish, but I have always, always read books and shared them with friends and family. And they usually trust my opinions.

So to help with my writing, as well as to keep up with my writing, I will be doing book reviews, whether published or unpublished, I don't care. I want you, my readers to see what I like. Maybe I can persuade you to read a book you never thought you'd like, but will give it a chance based on what I have to say.

That's how it's done, right? You like a book and tell a friend, then they share it with a friend, and so on & so on.

If you like what I have to say, maybe you'll keep coming back?

So, we have a new schedule. Same days, different posts.

Based on this, I see there will be a book review, my very first official, this Wednesday. Come on back for my take on Beth Barany's Henrietta The Dragon Slayer.

What do you think? What are your thoughts? I really want to know, so comment below or email me!
If you have a book you would like for me to review, shoot me an email through
the contact form on your right.

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The life of a stay-at-home mom is never dull. Lil Miss here has her own learning computer games, homeschooling, and playtime. But what happens when I need to get some work done and she wants to play?

She'll get most of my day and then want more. I love her, gods know I do, but sometimes I'd like to be able to have a few moments to myself.

When I need to get some work done, we have what can be called proximal bonding. This is something I used to do with my daddy. 

When he was always on the computer and I wanted to hang out with him, we'd watch a movie together. Actually, I would watch a movie that he liked, and I ultimately liked, while he was on the computer playing World of Warcraft, or working on a program, or doing some other computer related thing. We didn't talk. We didn't interact except to talk about the movie when I needed some clarification or some such other detail. But we were together. Daddy was there. To a kid who didn't get any affection from her adoptive parents and felt threatened by her new step-family, this little time alone with Daddy was treasured. 

Don't get me wrong, I couldn't imagine my life without my step-family, or my adoptive father and brother, I love them all so much. But I've already lost my biological mother. I needed my daddy, especially in my teen years. 

That proximal bonding was enough for me at that time. So now, when Lil Miss wants my attention 24/7 I can make her feel like she's getting my attention while still getting my own work done. 

Lil Miss plays with her toys within five feet of my desk and we can interact with each other while still doing what I need to do. Multitasking has become a much needed skill. 

I know there are alot of parents out there, so how do you deal with kids wanting your attention all the time? 

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Gonna Try This NaNoWriMo Thing Again

This time, I've signed up for Camp NanoWrimo. Instead of 50,000 words, I can set my own limit. I've set it at 25K words, hoping I can make or even beat that goal.

I will be working on the same novel I tried to work on last time, but I hope to actually get some work done this time.

A lot of people think being a writer means you wake up, write, do life, sleep, and repeat. Not true. AT ALL.

Most of the time writing is sporadic. There are bursts of inspiration and then nothing for hours, days, or even weeks (or months in my case). The blank page on a computer screen is a daunting thing that terrifies people into procrastinating.

And when a writer isn't trying to write, they're doing chores, playing with their kids, hanging out with friends: everything a normal person does on a day to day basis a writer does.

Trying to write around all the normal life stuff is harder than people think.

Hopefully this go-around, I'll be able to meet my goals.

Fingers Crossed

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