Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: Since I'm in a holding pattern while I wait to hear back from my editor and two beta readers, I used last week to set goals for the last quarter of this year. I should say for October and November because I rarely get much writing related stuff done in December. 

Motivational Quote: "Habit is more dependable than inspiration." ~ Octavia E. Butler

What I'm Reading: I'm currently reading Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown. It's one of her older books. It was published in 2008.

Random Things: My mom is going to have to have a second hand surgery. We're waiting to find out when it'll be scheduled, but I'm pretty sure it'll be sometime later this month. I don't know what the recovery time will be yet. Her first surgery had about a 6 week recovery time total with her unable to use her hand for the first 4 weeks. Thanksgiving is going to be a bit different this year. Usually she and I do the cooking, but she won't be able to do much this time. The problem is I don't cook (or eat) meat so dinner might have to be without a turkey.

Random Photo: 

                    It's that time of year. Pumpkin carving to happen in a couple of weeks.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: Another good week. I feel like I'm on a roll. I'm also rethinking the title of the first book in the series. I have to make a decision soon so I have time to have the cover changed by my designer and still have time to get everything put together and ready to go so that when January 4th arrives, I'll just have to hit the "publish" button.

Motivational Quote: Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out. ~ Robert Collier.  I really like this quote so I'm repeating it this week.

What I'm Reading: I started Thick As Thieves by Sandra Brown last night. I'm only a chapter or so into the story so I'm undecided how I feel about it. I really enjoy some of her books, but at the same time there have been some of them that I haven't finished. 

Random Things: I started making my holiday cards this past Saturday. I usually make a different card for each person on my list, about twenty people total. This year I'm only making two different cards so some people will get one and some people will get the other one. This will make getting the cards done a lot quicker because I can do all the cutting, stamping, and coloring for both types assembly line style.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): I made a good amount of progress last week - 21 pages of new material. I'm hoping I won't have too much more to write to fill in the gap I found. After that's completed, I can finish the last bit of revising the rest of the pages I have written.

Quote of the Week: "Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart." ~ Roy Bennett (I'm repeating last week's quote because I like it so much. It really speaks to me.)

What I'm Reading: I'm still reading Outfox by Sandra Brown. I haven't had a lot of time to read lately.

Random Thoughts: We didn't have any trick or treaters last year so I decided not to purchase any candy. I don't usually eat it myself and I didn't want to have it left over sitting around. Guess what I'm craving now? Yep, mini chocolate candy bars. I'm resisting so far.

Random Photo of the Week: 

Somebody received a clean bill of health on Friday at his appointment. He wasn't happy to go, but he was thrilled to come back home.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): Due to the flu-like illness I suffered from most of last week, I didn't get much done. I'm working hard this week to get some forward progress.

Quote of the Week: "Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart." ~ Roy Bennett

What I'm Reading: I started Outfox by Sandra Brown on Sunday. I'm not very far into it yet. 

Random Thoughts: One thing I love about the colder weather is that I can start baking bread again. I rarely bake in the summer due to the heat and humidity. I have a number of new bread recipes I want to try. I made herbed focaccia rolls this past Sunday that came out pretty well. 

Random Photo of the Week:

                                  The herbed focaccia rolls I mentioned above.


  

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): I managed to get about 20 pages done last week. At this rate, I won't be done by the middle of the month. I'm hoping to get a lot done this week, though even if I'm successful I most likely won't finish the book until the end of the month.

Quote of the Week: "The ones who believed in themselves the most were the ones who won." ~ Florence Griffith Joyner

What I'm Reading: I've set aside Tailspin by Sandra Brown to read The Duke With The Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne. This is the 6th book in the Victorian Rebels series. I love this series and am really enjoying this book.

Random Thoughts: My cat back to his normal self in terms of eating and playing. I'm hoping the seizure was a one time thing and won't happen again. I'm taking him back to the vet for another blood test at the end of the week. His white blood cell count was low when they tested it a week and a half ago. They want to retest it to see if it's still low or if it has rebounded to a normal level or is at least showing an upward trend. Since he is acting like he always has before, I'm hoping his white blood cell count is in a good range.

Random Photo of the Week:

                    Mrs. Green likes to sleep in the laundry basket whether it's full or not.
 

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): My mom and I both had separate appointments two days last week. One of my cats had a seizure on Wednesday night. I spent the next two days back and forth at the vet's office so I didn't get any writing done last week. 

Quote of the Week: "Fall in love with the process and the results will come." ~ Eric Thomas

What I'm Reading: I started reading Tailspin by Sandra Brown on Monday night. 

Random Thoughts:  My cat is still undergoing testing to find out what caused his seizure. In the past I've often wished he could talk to me. Now more than ever, I wish he could talk so he can tell me how he's feeling and if he's okay.

Random Photo of the Week:

                   
                            Somebody resting and hopefully on the road to recovery.

 

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work In Progress): Still working on revisions of Honor Bound. I'm a little behind where I want to be, but not too bad. I'm not sure how much I'll get done this week as we run up to the Easter holiday. I have baking to do and relatives coming and going much of the week.

Quote of the Week: "A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” ~ Colin Powell

What I'm Reading: Seeing Red by Sandra Brown. I started the book on Sunday and am really enjoying it.

Random Thoughts: Is there an age you reach when you don't indulge in Easter candy? I don't normally eat a lot of chocolate, just a piece now and then, maybe a couple of times a month or less, but when Easter arrives, I need to have Snicker eggs, Almond Joy eggs, and Dove Salted Caramel chocolates. I can't not buy them and then I give a way a few of each in Easter baskets, but always make sure I have some left for myself.

Random Photo of the Week:

                                  The birthday card I made for my goddaughter.
  

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress): I wrote 15 pages of new material making a few transitional scenes a bit smoother. I had hoped to get more done, but had a couple of things crop up that took up my writing time two days last week.

Quote of the Week: "Know your intention, put in the focused time, and you will receive your due." ~ Unknown

What I'm reading: I just finished a book last night so tonight I'll be starting Sting by Sandra Brown.

Random Things: I have a friend who fosters kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs for a local animal shelter until the animals can find a forever home. I would love to do that but unfortunately, or fortunately, I don't have the space or backyard that would be needed. I say fortunately because I'm sure I would get attached to each animal and not want to let them go.

Random Photo of the Week:

                     Keeping to the same theme as my Random Thing this week.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress): Still working on revisions. My main accomplishment was ripping out two chapters that were wordy and kind of didn't really do anything. I rewrote them into one chapter, tightened the pacing, and now it moves the plot forward.

Quote of the week: "Every strike brings me closer to the next home run. " ~ Babe Ruth Although in my case, it would be every rejection letter brings me closer to the next publishing contract.

What I'm reading: I'm about a third of the way through Mean Streak by Sandra Brown. It's almost as good as her novel, Lethal. Both of these books are next to impossible to put down.

Random things: I spent last weekend working in the garden. I pulled out the orange tiger lily plants that were on the left side of our porch and moved them along the side of the house. I'm not a big fan of these because after they blossom, I think they're kind of unsightly with these long stems sticking out of green leaves that remind me of rushes. They came with the house when we moved in and I've been wanting to move them ever since our first summer here which is about 5 years ago. I planted Cranberry Ice Dianthus in their place. 

Random Photo of the Week:

Here's a picture of the Dianthus in their new home. They're a perennial that will bloom from spring right into the fall.