Yay Spring...Yay Books!

The weather round these parts has been glorious! I know I'm not winter person, but the emotions that I feel during the first few beautiful days of Spring weather always catch me by surprise. It's such an inspirational time of rebirth and inspiration. Does anyone else experience this. I allow many things to plague me through the winter months but Spring is like a salvation. I know this is all very dramatic and over the top, but that's really how it feels to me.

I'm sure a lot of it stems from the fact that my business goes dormant in Winter, leaving me feeling a little useless...and well, a lot broke by the time Spring rolls around. I know that useless feeling is unwarranted, since I am still a mother, wife, writer and homemaker. But I can't help it. I need to feel like I'm producing something that is bettering our family. Now that I'm shooting again, it feels so good.

I'm also writing. Tons. I'm nearly done with my wip and I'm so happy I could scream. I love the characters, love the story, love that it's almost to "The End". So, as we all know, it can really get started! I'm actually very excited to do edits and revisions. Very excited. I think I'll be one of those people that enjoy that process the best.

On to other things, I've read some fantastic books lately. Thought I'd share.

1. Bright Young Things  Anna Godbersen

I adored this book. It's historical, prohibition, speak easy's, it's YA, there's drama and hot boys. Seriously? The only thing that could ruin it would be the writing...but no, Anna has not failed me yet. I loved the Luxe series (which I wrote about last year) and I know I will love the BYT series as well. 

2. Born Wicked  Jessica Spotswood

I will use one word to describe this. Yummy! That's how I felt. In some ways, this book is very complex. It's about witches and a very male dominated suppressive world. It really taps into some deep rooted issues that pertain to our world today, I think. I love this about it. I love how she writes it, but at the same time it's incredibly simple. I mean that in a positive way. It's just simply pleasurable and easy to read. Now, I can see where the following books may not be described this way. I can tell that things are sort of "just getting started" so to speak. That being said, I think Jessica has a writing style that is not fluffy, or full of useless jargon. I don't even know what that means! haha But I just felt like she nailed this one. It seemed like an ideal young adult book. Enough mature conflict and theme to please an adult, but the perfect voice, writing style and motivation for a teenager. If you can't tell....I loved it!!

3. Lola and the Boy Next Door  Stephanie Perkins

Oh Lola. Can you make me some clothes? Can you do my hair? Something? I want a little more Lola in my everyday life. Anyone else? What a fantastic character.
I loved this story as much, if not a smidge more than Anna ATFK. But I have to confess something. I loved Cricket, and she without a doubt made the right choice...but who else had a little bit of a crush on Max??? It must be a deep psychological issue of mine, but I have a weakness for the bad boy. What is wrong with me? But at the same time, I don't think Max was BAD, per se. He was just older, and wrong for her. But in my world, after they broke up, I was the older woman he saw while he was gone. Just sayin...

Feel free to judge me on that last comment!!! :)

Can't find the rhythm.

My brain has a little problem. It goes like this.

I read a book in first person present...and then when I go back to my novel words don't sound right anymore! I get confused, things don't make sense. Wording seems awkward.

I just finished up the novel Anna and the French Kiss...which I LOVED! Don't get me wrong, it's not Anna's fault. But all I can hear is 1st/present. The end.

Does anyone else have this problem???? How can I switch my brain back?

And the Winner is....

KAREN AKINS!!!!

My sweet husband, although confused why I'd have a "contest" on my blog, read each entry and very carefully considered his choice. I should have seen this coming. He is very analytical. He took the idea that it was a "first kiss" very seriously. He made it clear that Karen's entry seemed to feel most to him like what a first kiss would be like. So...here it is. Karen't winning first kiss! :)


“So…were you ever planning on kissing me?” I asked.

Real romantic, I know.

Craig Campbell ponied up, over-exuberant tongue and all. It’s interesting the details I remember. Our porch light was burnt out. We were the same height (not hard as I’ve always been a freakin’ Amazon, even at seventeen). Looking back from my thirty-two-year-old skin, I realize the kiss stopped meaning something for me three minutes into it. Hubbykins’ pecks and end-of-the-workday quick smooches hold more depth and passion than that fumbled mashing of lips and teeth.

But that’s not what first kisses are for, now is it?


Fun huh? Loved it Karen.

The other 2 amazing women who entered...Thank you! Thank you for being a part of my first contest, and thank you for reading my ramblings. Your entries were also great, it was a toughie! I'm glad he was doing it, not me!! :)

AND, I finally feel better. Seriously, I haven't been down that long for...well, ever I don't think. It was bad. I had felt completely out of control for the past week. Life has been stressful lately, and being sick on top of it was the icing on the cake. So, yesterday, feeling a little better I had to act. I cleaned the heck out of my kitchen. I mean took it apart, and put it back together. About 15% of the crap in my kitchen is GONE! (Hello goodwill). Of what remains, about 60% is in a brand new place. It's more functional, its more attractive. (It's a little hard to get used too.) But man it felt good.

I was telling my sister in law about it on the phone and she nailed it when she said "sometimes I have to start a project just to see something to completion." Or something along those lines. But YES! I seem to have so little control over so many things in my life right now. Or, the things I can control seem so big, overwhelming and hard. (Hello manuscript, how are you?) I just needed to feel good about something. ANYTHING!

And it did feel good. My husband thought I was insane. It wasn't even planned. I was just unloading the dishwasher and didn't have room for the last mug. That was it. I started ripping things from cabinets, and tossing things into a trash bag like a mad woman. Before I knew it every surface in my kitchen was covered with food, dish or appliance. Obviously, that was the point I was ready to quit. (Doesn't it always work that way.) But no, I was in too deep. I couldn't leave the mess, so I methodically arranged a new order and put it all away. Cleaning and vacuuming as I went.

Needless to say, I want and need to do that to every corner of my home. Closets, laundry rooms, bathrooms. I think I'm feeling the spring cleaning bug. I'm feeling it not only with the tangible things, like my home. I'm feeling in my life. The need to clear out some cobwebs from my mind, my heart, and my relationships. I'm feeling the need to be honest and put myself out there.

Winter to me is about hibernating in so many ways, not just physically. I emotionally hibernate. I don't talk to my friends as much, or my mother even. I go inward. It becomes depressing.

Saturday night we went to my sons Cub Scout Blue and Gold Ceremony. (Yay he got his tiger badge!!) I stood there talking to all the other parents thinking, "gosh it feels good to be in public and engaging with people." After I got ready and put makeup on, I actually said to my husband..."did you forget I could look decent?" OMG, how sad is that? Please tell me I'm not alone. Being a mom, who owns a seasonal business (winter NOT being the busy time) it is so easy to fall into a pit. Throw 165 snow days and a house full of sickness on top and you've got yourself a perfect storm baby!

I'm telling that storm to take a hike. I'm ready for spring. Ready for green, ready for blue, ready for yellow. I'm ready for productiveness.

I don't think it's a coincidence I fell back on that old ms the other day. I needed something fresh, and I'm in love with it right now.

Now I need to decide if I should take it to my crit group tonight. Oh I can't tell you how HAPPY I am that I have that tonight!!

Happy Monday!

Back, Back - Forth and Forth

Remember that song? I loved Aaliyah.

So, here is the question. You're working on your WIP, but you have an unfinished piece that keeps bugging. It comes into mind while you're driving, while you're falling asleep, while you're taking a shower. Sometimes it comes to mind more often then the ms you're actually trying to finish. Or maybe, maybe, it's something new all together. Maybe a great new idea that you can't shove off.

What do you do?

Do you go back? Change it up, just get out what you can since obviously it is begging you too?

I started a piece back in the summer of 2007 and loved it right off. Wrote about 5 chapters and then stopped. For a long while. However, it has never left me. The story continued to build in my mind over the course of 3 years until last summer when I thought of my current wip. I started it.

Slowly, the previous work started to call me back. I haven't let myself open it though, and I'm starting to wonder why. There is no right and wrong in this process. I have read Keirsten talk many times about how you should "enjoy the journey" because once your signed it's a job.

It's not a job for me. It may NEVER be. I can do whatever the heck I want. But I don't. I'm considering opening it today. I'm feeling the pull. I feel like I could bust out 10,000 words today if I wanted. But should I ? Why am I stressing this?

Because I am stressed.

Being sick has made me feel despair. Don't ask. I can't explain other than to say...you know that feeling of being sick-feeling like garbage-then not showering for a few days-feeling like more garbage because your dirty-wallowing in self pity because your sick, dirty, and miserable-every dish in your kitchen is dirty-so on, and so on, and so on.

No? Never been there? If you've ever been home with a new baby you should know what I'm talking about. Especially a new baby with an older child at home. The self pity compounds itself until you have an overwhelming helplessness hanging over you like a cloud.

Wow, where did that come from? Well, you know where I'm at emotionally don't you?!

If you choose to never come back after reading this...so be it. Please do though!!

I'm just in a funk, and I think that's where the need to do something new is coming from. So, the question is...(wow what a circle to get back to this question!) should I go back and work on the old piece? Have you ever done that?

Tell me to stop worrying about nonsense like this.

Off to take a shower....and plot out this old story some more. sheesh! I'm even going to do my hair and makeup darn it! TAKE THAT 'sorry for yourselves'!

Oh, and DONT FORGET to enter the kissing contest to win Anna and the French Kiss....down below!!! Can't wait to get that book!!

Image source HERE

Sick and sicker.

Saturday I had a very busy day. A day that I'd been planning for awhile.

That event came and went! (Thank goodness)

Then I got sick on Sunday. Then my youngest got sick with me. My wonderful husband took care of us 2 sickies, AND my other 2 boys all day.

But let me tell you, this sick is violent. It is BAD!! I hoped today I would be better, but this morning I just woke up feeling like I had been hit by a truck. I don't think I can sleep enough! I just don't bounce back from illness like I used to. Anyone else experience that sign of aging? Ugh, it's not cool.

I want it to be Spring.
I want to feel good.
I want the sky to be blue and not blech.

Is that too much to ask? No? Ok, I also want someone to come and deep clean my house!

Oh well, make sure you enter the contest to win Anna and the French Kiss! BELOW!

AH-mazing, a new design and a CONTEST!!

Can you believe my blog overhaul? I found this amazing woman online...Rita. She spiffed up my blog. She is insanely, insanely wonderful. I love her!

She also did my business blog. If you need a blog overhaul....hit her up!!

In honor of my super-duper blog redesign I'm having a little contest.

I'm giving away a copy of the book Anna and the French Kiss. I haven't read it, but everyone who does LOVES it. So, I'll buy one for me...and one for you! Sound good? Good.



Here is what must be done!

In the comments section, write a paragraph 100 words or less about your first kiss. 3rd person, 1st person, however you want...it just has to involve you-another person (well maybe) and some lip smacking!!

Entries must be submitted by Friday, February 25 by midnight! Yay, let me hear it! My husband will be the judge- because I love him and he is completely unbiased and very honest. (And because our first kiss was in February, twelve years ago!! WOW!)

Go forth and tell your friends.