Merry Christmas!!!

We had a very La La morning with ups and downs, laughter and tears, and lots of fart jokes. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!!!

Happy Birthday, Tigger!

This week, my oldest darling stink machine turned nineteen. To celebrate, he chose The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. We were fortunate enough to be seated in the cove section and had a wonderful waitress. I learned I hate arugula and there is something even Tigger won't eat. Here's a hint: arugula.

It was just last month I learned I actually love Brussels spouts. At least, I love them in Longhorn's au gratin. Little cabbages, so different from the horror show my grandmother created when I was a kid. Just yummy. I'm hoping Longhorn still has them for my birthday even though the Brussels sprouts au gratin is a fall special.

It's still Tigger's birthday week. He's excited to get our tree and about the now falling snow. While Tigger is the same age as most of the characters I write about (including Nick for the next Damaged book), he is so much sweeter than an average nineteen-year-old dude. He's a gentle kid who loves music, animals, and caring for others.

Even though this week has been great in many ways, I finally visited the doctor about my nearly constant headaches. I hadn't gotten much editing done all week, but hopefully the antibiotics for the sinus infection will get my ass back into gear.

I'm still chugging along (oh so slowly) on editing Scattered. I'm also writing up a new romance idea (another one) and trying to get into Blue Awakening. As a result of my sickie, post-publication funk, and a good dose of laziness, I won't be able to publish Blue by the end of December. Just another book on my overbooked schedule for 2014. I'll have to be satisfied with publishing only eight this year.

In blog news, most remained on vacation mode through the holidays. However, on Just That Good, Sheena wrote a glowing review for Bad Games by Jeff Menapace. 

It's been a wild week with lots of fun because of Tigger. Next week will be another busy one, but that's how it is for everyone around the holidays.

Thankful in La La Land

I meant to write this sooner, but it's difficult to put into words how blessed I've been this year. Finding enough success as an author to consider writing as my career was a giant turning point in my life. 2013 will go down as one of my best years.

All of the blessings from this year were thanks to the Lord. Even the hardships He provided were meant to test me and my faith. There have been times this year when I wished to take the easy route. Instead, I relied on the Lord to lead me and I was never disappointed.

Preparing for our ninth Christmas in Indiana, my family is healthy and happy. The boys are home for schooling, so I get to spend more time with them. Sally loves her new den and reads like crazy. This has been a great year for her too and she's rarely been happier.

One of the decisions I made a year ago was to take up the cause of reader rights. It hasn't always been easy. On several occasions, people I liked on a personal level lacked the professional behavior I could support. Losing people I considered friends was the most difficult part of the last year. In the end, they showed their true colors and I realized I had lost nothing. God tested and I passed.

Another blessing from this choice was learning to love blogging. I started Indie Angie with no clue how to blog. What would I write about? Who would care? I was just writing to myself, so I started interviewing authors. Writing about others is always easier than writing about myself. I eventually created the zombie and review blogs. Had I not decided to reach out to other authors, I'd still find blogging an awkward pursuit.

I've met many amazing people through my reader rights efforts. The most important is Candy Girl who became my friend, co-blogger, sounding board, beta reader, and voice of reason. She was a sweet thing from the Netherlands who showed up on my blog to share how she was attacked after writing a negative review. Both new to the cause, we became fast friends. Oh, but do we go meow with each other on occasion! It's our personalities. Where I'm impulsive, she's wise. Where I'm hard, she's soft. We make the best team.

The weirdest turn of events from the last year is my friendship with Lauryl. Man, did she piss me off at the beginning of the year. I really hated how someone who wrote cool books would turn out to be such a dumbass. I thought Lauryl was a whiny brat. She thought I was a jealous bitch. We joined forces when someone messed with our friends (don't mess with our friends EVER). Months later, we're like sisters from a different mister.

We each have three boys and  enjoy writing more than one genre. We have the same phobias and pet peeves. If we're sisters, I'm the bossy older one and she's the patient younger one. Meanwhile, Candy Girl is the youngest sister enduring us both.

So this year, I've made wonderful friends and grown as an author. I learned a lot from my amazing readers on how to improve my writing. I was one among many indie authors who found varying degrees of success this year. From the huge hits to the smaller ones, I've heard more and more about indies building fan bases.

This year has been amazing in so many ways and I'm thankful for every blessing and trial the Lord has given me.

Next post: I return to my snarky self.

High Five for Book Seven!

What a nice way to start this holiday week!!! I have uploaded Damaged and the Outlaw to Ammy, B&N, and Smashwords. It feels good to have made my deadline (the 2nd one anyway) thanks to help from Mustang Sally, Candy Girl, Hardcore Patty, and Saucy Sarah.

With Outlaw, I have hit the same number of books I published in 2012. Plus, Candy Girl pointed out another milestone. I have officially published over one million words!!! Hot damn!

As happy as I am to publish Outlaw, I'm already focused on Scattered. I still hope to get two more books out this year. Scattered is for sure. It just needs to be edited along with lengthening the finale. My goal is to have it to Sally by Thanksgiving and Candy Girl by next weekend. Depending on the problems they find, I might be able to publish Scattered next week.

The minute Scattered is in the hands of my beta readers, I need to start Blue Awakening. While I hope to finish the book this year, it'll be tight. The upside is that December will include the holidays, so I'll be on vacation from homeschooling Roo and Pooh. This should give me the time to hustle with Blue.

Back to this holiday week, I'm planning on enjoying my family. There will be no new posts on Where Zombies Come to Read, Just That Good, and BBA Whisperer. I will post a Bijou Babbles when Outlaw is live on Ammy. Later in the week, I want to write a La La post about everything I'm thankful for this year. Finally, I posted an interview on Indie Angie with a new romance author named Emilia Winters. Her first novella Complications was reviewed positively by Candy Girl on our blog.

For now, it's turkey time. Family, food, and fun!!! I wish everyone a safe and happy week.

Outlaw, Thugs, Full Time Author, and Charity

Happy dance! Damaged and the Outlaw is in its final stages. Sally has read the book and says it's her favorite Damaged book so far. Trust me that the chick doesn't bullshit when it comes to books.

Candy Girl is reading it now. I'm still tweaking things. Adding and deleting, editing and proofing, but it'll be in the hands of my other beta readers by the end of the week. The publishing date is set for November 26.

An awesome romance blog called Read This ~ Hear That did the cover reveal on Saturday. Thanks to Natalee who put it together last minute. Not only is she aces, her blog is sexy fun with lots of great book giveaways.

For Thanksgiving week, I'm set to edit Scattered. As some of you know, I homeschool Roo and Pooh. Normally, kids attend school Mon-Wed during the week of Thanksgiving, but they honestly never do much. I've decided to have my boys take the week off and add those missing days later in the year. So next week will be relaxing for everyone.

I'm also psyched to start Blue Awakening. Last weekend, Candy Girl helped me decide on a cover for the book. Now, I just need to write it. While I've completed the first chapter and a few other scenes, the gist of the novel waits for me to get cracking. I'm even listening to Susan Boyle to set the mood.

This last week wasn't all happy happy joy joy. A particularly stupid BBA decided to turn full-on thug and use an offensive slur against the disabled. She giggled about it later. Blew off anyone who might be offended then made herself the victim. Same old crap from her type of loser.

Months ago, I wrote about how hurtful and evil the R word is to anyone who truly cares about the disabled. As a mother with two sons on the autism spectrum, I have no patience for excuses by people who attack the disabled. I never wrote about my sons' disabilities before because I know the asshats would mock them. That's what the sick bastards do.

In the end, those bottom feeders can write whatever they want about my family. They are beyond help, particularly when they make excuses to use hate speech. Some words are just ugly and should never be used.

Possibly, this selfish chick is from a part of the country or belongs to an age group that believes the disabled should be shuttered away and pitied from afar. It doesn't matter why she believes hate speech like the R word is acceptable. She's filth like all people who attack the most vulnerable in society. Yeah, I'm pissed. Use that vile word and I go Mama Grizzly. No sympathy for bigots.

In good news, my girl Lauryl quit her "day job" and is a full-time author now. Congratulations! It's a big deal when an author can claim writing as their occupation, rather than a hobby. She's worked hard the last year, publishing three books and building a fan base. Here's hoping 2014 is even more successful for Lauryl as she expands to new genres and gains more fans.

Lots of great blogging this last week. On Indie Angie, I interviewed a really cool UF author named Rebecca Espinoza. Candy Girl previously reviewed Rebecca's first book, Binds. This week, she reviewed Café Insomniac. I added a review for Lady Sings the Blues. On Where Zombies Come to Read, Deadly Dee gave a stellar review for Corpse Days which is by a new hot author named Jonathon Kane. We're all looking forward to his upcoming UF novel.

With Outlaw's approaching release, I wrote up a Bijou Babbles. Later in the week, I'll post an excerpt from the book. Finally on BBA Whisperer, we giggled through our weekly update, pointed out a raging duh from one of my fandorks, and revealed the nastiness from the asshat I mentioned earlier.

I want to end this post by mentioning the recent natural disasters that have taken the lives of so many. I have several friends with family who have been devastated by the typhoon in the Philippines. If you're interested in donating to help those who've suffered greatly, you can do so here. There are many other groups providing relief like Doctors without Borders, UNICEF, OXFAM America, and Save the Children.

Closer to home, a tornado tore apart towns in Illinois. If you'd like to help those hurt worst, you can donate here.

I hope everyone who believes in the power of God will pray for those suffering. If you're not a believer, please send positive thoughts to the survivors.

Snowing in November

The first snowfall of autumn arrived last night in Yamalamadingdong. Less than an inch, but everything is coated in a lovely white. For now anyway. The sun is bright and the snow is already melting. The snow lasted long enough to be a morning surprise and add an extra ten minutes to getting my truck ready.

I am psyched to say I finshed writing the first draft of Damaged and the Outlaw over the weekend. I'm in the process of editing it. Adding layers and details along with cleaning up typos and repetition. Plan to have the book ready for Sally by Wednesday. Next, Candy Girl will get her hands on it this weekend. After they give me their notes and I've fixed the problems, I'll have it ready for my two Bijou beta readers. Looks as if I'll make my deadline without a problem.

Once Outlaw is getting the once over by the girls, I'll finally edit Scattered. It should be a two to three day job. The book will then follow the same editing process with Sally and Candy Girl.

The final project of the year is Blue Awakening. All of my pen names will get one last book for 2013. It'll bring my year end total to nine books. Not the twelve I hoped for months ago, but still better than 2012.

I have no idea where to start in 2014. I'll have at least two more Damaged novels (possibly a third if I do the Dylan book). I never did get the second Shadow Sisters book written. I had planned to finish all of my Angela series along with Dakota's next year. Instead, I've had to trim back those deadlines.

Too much to choose from and not enough time to write everything I want to get completed. Shadow Sisters#2 and Damaged and the Dragon will likely come first. Grrr...just don't know. I really want to write the first books from Carys and Etta. I have another sweeter romance idea too. Backlog!!!

I finally got caught up with blogging this last week. On Where Zombies Come to Read, I posted an interview with author Devan Sagliani who has three series available. On Bijou's blog, I added a quote from Raven. Candy Girl provided a review of Complications for our blog Just That Good. The novella is the first by novice romance author Emilia Winters. The book was showcased on Indie Angie and I look forward to my interview with this hot new author.

Finally, we were busy on the Whisperer blog with updates and a kooky newbie author. Fun stuff. Well, it's chilly willy here and I have editing to do. I hope everyone is enjoying their November and staying warm.

Halloweenie

Halloween is my fifteenth favorite holiday. It's a time of year when we piss away money on costumes we'll wear once and eat candy from tiny bags instead of normal sized bags. I'll admit I haven't been interested in decorating since the wind blew away our plastic jack-o-lantern four years ago. Living at the end of a cul-de-sac makes front yard decorations short-lived.

This is the first time in seventeen years I haven't gone trick or treating with a kiddo. Roo decided he wasn't interested in going out. Instead, we ordered pizza, played Jenga, Uno, and charades before watching hours of those ghost hunters shows. In Yamalamadingdong, trick or treating was rescheduled for the weekend because of a storm, so we'll have a second Halloween tomorrow. However, I doubt the pizza will last that long with teenagers in the house.

Earlier in the week, I caught a cold. It didn't slow me down writing and I'm hoping to finish the first draft of Outlaw by early next week. I'm hitting all the action scenes now with only a few doinking scenes left. This novel is much more action oriented than my other Damaged books.

My writing plans for the year keep shrinking. At this rate, I'll be lucky to get Blue Awakening and Scattered finished. Don't know if I'll have much time in December to goof around with Shadow World books. All that means is that 2014 will be even busier.

This week, I started the new book review blog. Only two reviews are up so far because I got sickie as did one of my reviewers. "Just That Good" is an in-joke from my Blood Tide book. Candy Girl gets it and that's all that matters. I figured I'll kick the blog into gear next year. So far, I have reviewers Sheena, Candy Girl, and Mustang Sally. I love working with such diverse badass babes and their varied tastes. The first reviews are for The Gate by KT Grant and Binds by Rebecca Espinoza.

On Where Zombies Come to Read, I posted an interview with GB Banks along with a review from Deadly Dee for The Most Uncommon Cold. I also added a little chewy brain treat for Halloween with Our Favorite Cinematic Zombies.

For the Whisperer blog, we profiled several whiny nobodies on our update. Plus, we asked F&G to retire or improve her game because she was boring us. The BBA have been quieter this week which is good news for readers. Maybe the whiners took the week off for Halloween.

While I didn't have a chance to add anything to Indie Angie, I did write an update for my Bijou blog.

Lastly, I want to send happy thoughts to Lauryl who bought a house in Oct. It's been a wild year for her, but her family will enjoy their first holidays in the new abode. With things settling down for her, I look forward to her next books. She's working on three! Way to multitask, badass babe!

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend and happy November!!!