Not So Silent Night

I am proud to present a cover reveal (though if you are on the ball, you may have seen it yesterday :P) for Sheri Velarde's Not So Silent Night.

It's a gorgeous story that she's upgraded from hot and good to sizzling and great! New edits, new cover, and voila! A tale to warm you at Christmas and beyond! She's done all this fighting major health issues and doing Nano! I'm impressed at how good of a job she has done! Be ready! Time to start your Christmas buying is at hand!

Without further ado, I give you her delicious cover done by the ever wonderful cover artist, Victoria Miller, as well as a few words from Sheri herself. Watch her blog (and likely here lol) for buy links!

 

 

Not So Silent Night is a very special story to me for numerous reasons. It was one of my most successful releases with Breathless Press and one of my favorite to write. Now it is about to become my first self-published book as I ready it for re-release this holiday season under my real name! It has been re-edited with some new bits added to make the story even better, but still retains the steaminess from before!

The world of self-publishing is a little scary for me, but exciting at the same time! As I have had two small publishers close on me this year, I just feel that this gives me a safety net to my career and allows me more freedom as well. The world of publishing is forever changing, and I am learning to go with the flow in order to keep up! I can’t think of a better way to embark on my new adventure than with Not So Silent Night, which will be out November 25^th, and with the beautiful cover from artist Victoria Miller!

 

Links:

Website/Blog: http://sherivelarde.weebly.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheri-VelardeKelly-Ryan/632892500084202

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sher_V

 

Blurbs:

Another lonely Christmas approaches for Anna and her life of penance—until an otherworldly distraction appears and changes her life.

 

Anna is a lonely woman, running her dead grandmother's flower shop. She hates Christmas and could not feel more lost when a handsome and mysterious Russian, Alexander, walks into her shop and her life. Each has secrets that they are harboring. Just as their passion erupts, the good old boys in town threaten to ruin everything. Getting to know each other is tough for most couples, adding in magic does not make it any easier. Now with a pack of werewolves out to destroy them, things become intense. They find themselves in a fight for their lives. Can their newfound love give them the strength to win against this threat and trust in the future?

 

Bio:

Sheri Velarde, lives in New Mexico with her husband and their two dogs.

Being an avid reader since an early age, she has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember. She has been writing all her life, but only recently started to actually try to pursue her dream of writing for a living. She specializes in all things paranormal and that go bump in the night. Her heart truly lies in exploring unknown worlds or adding the supernatural to our world. If it goes bump in the night or has magical connotations, Sheri writes about it.

She is constantly putting out new material with various publishers, so it is best to keep up with her on her website www.sherivelarde.weebly.com.

In her spare time Sheri is an artist, jewelry designer, independent comic writer/artist and freelance non-fiction writer. Hiking in the mountains, going to live concerts, art openings, museums, and hosting intimate dinner parties.

 

 

 

It's me. No really, it is

Hi *waves madly* has this past year and a bit been nuts. I've not been good at blogging, but honestly, I had to cut back somewhere. As my general health improved, I tried to add guest blogs to help keep me active. I had about a month where I was not ill then came down with this current thing. Prior, I had about a month and a half (pushed it to two out of denial lol) in the spring time. Otherwise, I've pretty much been ill, with different things, aggravated by my asthma, since the fall of 2012. It's one of the reasons I've not blogged much.

But, have I been sitting idly by? No. Although I've slowed way down, I managed to become an editor, and now a managing editor at the publisher that took a chance on me for The Ulfric's Mate. As I may have stated before, that series now has two out, The Midwife's Moon being the second, and a contract for FIFTEEN MORE. I am not kidding :D five freebies and 10 full lengths (50k+) and whatever else happens. *makes note to write tonight*

So, in the last year and a half, I've released:

The Ulfric's Mate July 2012, book 1, The War of the Weres
Ravaged anthology, Volume 1 August 2012, (Barely There, a prequel to The War of the Weres)
Rick Sexed Up the Doc, November 2012, Naughty Nursery Rhymes
The Captain's Christmas, December 2012, Holiday
Crimson anthology, Volume 1, March 2013 (Daryn's Slayer)
Serviced anthology, Volume 1, March 2013 (Over a Dead Body)
The Midwife's Moon, August 2013, book 2, The War of the Weres
Slow Burn, October 2013, Dead Man Walking line
Mayhem in Mexico: Zombie Infestation October 2013, A Serena Rouge Novel
And, coming in January 2013, Ravaged anthology, volume 2, (Witchy Wolf)

I seriously became ill in September of 2012. Imagine if I were healthy? I've also edited a number of works that have since been published and are still coming out pretty regularly.

My family has grown so much. The kids by leaps and bounds as always. I made a half hearted attempt to do NaNoWriMo, but had family emergencies get in the way. So, I'm thinking of doing my own in January, but make it two weeks long. That's only 4k a day, with a day off even, which I'm more than capable of. NaNo is when I usually really buckle down on my writing. But, sometimes, the family stuff really isn't something that can be put off. Anyone else who wants to make up for NaNo or just wants to do a run with me, I'm planning on Friday the 10th of January through the 27th (giving myself the three weekends). So it's actually what? little under 3k a day, if I take no time off.

I've really neat hard core sci fi in the works that I've been asked for a full for (I mean, Robert Heinlein, hard core), and there's a nice romance built in to the intrigue and science, and it's set on Mars.) I'm just over halfway through with Book 3 of The War of the Weres, and somewhere have notes and few bits for books 4 & 5, and 3 of the freebies. Hopefully, I can find them again. Grrrrrrr time to clean out the docs, I think. I've also been asked to rewrite and resubmit a YA that I sent in that's 88k! So need to get on that.

I've been writing, but I let my editing take over my life, so have to seek out that balance I had before.

Christmas is coming, and for my family, that means gift making and baking. I've made a few gifts for my daughter and my new grandbaby, and her husband even gets something. I'm waiting on a paycheck to mail off a few of them that I have to go out. But first, must wrap them lol Have also been making hats and mitts for the kids still living at home (back up to 4 now lol) . Looking at trying my hand at making a kitten stuffed animal for the youngest that loves them so much. Possibly a pillow or something for the older kids. We'll see. Have to dig out my sewing machine and see what else I can come up with. It's going to be a lean Christmas this year. But at least, my son is home and safe. He wasn't safe for a while, so that worry is over. Thankful to have them all here this year.

I'll try and remember to take pictures before I send things out of what I've been up to. Course, some of the gifts will have to wait until after Christmas in case they look. :) No peeking, now...

I also did get a chance to do a little painting, finally. A cat commission I'm doing to trade for this awesome crochet blanket (yes, I could have made one myself, but I loved the pattern my friend had and she loves her cats. Good trade, methinks!) for my granddaughter. I also finished one I started years ago that I found while going through my canvases. I had to finish the faces...which I still suck at. grrrr. I would like to take another class for that.

Anyway, there's tons more, but here's the generality of my life for the past bits (Did you catch I'm grandma now? *grins*). Hope your family is doing well. I love to hear from people in the comments. Feel free to say hi and tell me how your family is celebrating the winter holidays.

Guest post, Raven MCALLAN

I have a great guest post :) It's a little different than the other Christmas promos, but a lot of fun! Please welcome the savvy and very prolific Scottish author, Raven McAllan, one of my fav new peeps I've met this year since becoming a published author at one of the houses she publishes through.

 

Oh what a lovely year.

 

Or—ohhhh…ooohhh…hoooo, Merry Christmas

 

And a very happy all year!

 

Because boy has it been a very happy year for me. I started the year with one book under my belt and will end it with…*drum roll*…*ducks rotten veg and ignores catcalls of greedy. I agree sorry but hey ho*… 17 stand alones, 7 anthos, 3 print, 3 free reads, and numerous flashes. (and 6 YA and a print under a different hat.)

 

Now before you all leave the blog, let me say how bloody lucky I feel. I never ever thought I'd get one book published let alone all these. They aren't all full length; in fact a lot are between 15-30k. A nice quick fill an hour read, something I enjoy.

 

It's not been easy, and there has been times I've wondered why the hell I was putting myself through it. But do you know? There is no way I couldn't. I have to write, and once I get to know my characters, that's it. I have to tell their story. Often I have no idea what it is until I start, and even then it can be nothing like I envisaged. The joys of being a pantster.

 

Take Stephen in The Perfect Gift. Did I know he was what he was? Did I heck. I thought his and Judith's story was a sweet romance. Ha, ha, ha. Once I began I realized it was no such thing, but oh boy I enjoyed writing it. It seems my Ladies of London (La Bella Isabella. The Best Man's Bridesmaid, and The Perfect Gift) are not so sweet and innocent as they seem.

 

Holly in Deck Mac Hall, is unsure of what she wants, or will accept but she knows the only person who can help her decide is Mac. If only he'd stop procrastinating (sounds like me on an oh-I'm-stuck day) and get on with it.

 

And once Christmas is over, I've a story in a very special book. Wine & Nine which is published on 28^th December. This book was conceived (sounds rude, I assure you it isn't—well not too rude anyway) around my kitchen table, way back in April when my lovely crit group met up. Over a very boozy few hours we decided to write an anthology, set in a pub in rural Scotland. Eight women on Magic Mac and his Mystery Tour's coach.  Because we all lead such busy lives, It's taken until now to sort it all out, but look for it on Amazon then. The cover is by a new very talented cover artist called Nicole Calder. I foresee we'll hear a lot more about her in the future. (www.nicolecalder.com )

 

Looking at my books and their blurbs, I seem to like feisty take no prisoner heroines. And hot, hot, hot, dominant men. I wonder if it has something to do with where I live? The land of brave warriors and not at all helpless lassies.

 

I live on the edge of a Scottish forest, in an area full of fairy stories and romantic novels. There's ony DH and me left at home, the children are off forging their own lives. Well we do have two cats, whose ambition in life is to kill the lap top and regain my lap.

 

I love all things Christmas. In fact I was considered a bit of an oddity… no agreeing thank you, in that I always asked for the tree to be put up before my December birthday. Then it was a tree for me as well as Christmas. I never minded waiting for a 'big' joint present on Christmas Day. We weren't well off and it was a way for me to get a bike, record player (yeah, that's how old I am) or watch.

 

Nowadays I'm lucky, I get two special days within a few weeks. And yes, I'm very thankful for all I get. I love presents but its not the cost, it's the fact they are made and or given with love.

 

However, the most important part of Christmas, is family. Sadly we can't always all be together, but I cherish any moments I have… (okay enough of the maudlin, or I'll be crying in the gin, and I was told that can't be the best part of Christmas…the gin not the crying.)

 

We have our traditions, and even the year all the kids were in various places around the world DH and I kept to them.

 

Dressing the tree with carols playing and a glass of Fizz in my hand…well nearby anyway. I do a wee bit of decorating each day for a week, until every room is decked in some Christmas finery. Yeah okay, overload, but hey it's Christmas.

 

Then on the day…

Fire lit, fairy lights on, Christmas music playing as we open our presents, turn and turn about. Then Bucks Fizz and smoked salmon for brunch. Dinner when I've cooked it. A chill-out count my blessings day.

 

(Okay I'll tell you a secret, I usually disappear for a few minutes and have a wee cry for my mum and dad who are no longer with us, and any friends and family I miss as well. It's my way of remembering them. Darn it I'm welling up as I type this …sorry)

 

And then it's boxing day, leftovers and hopefully a walk in the forest to make room for more…

 

Wherever you are who ever you're with or miss, peace and love to you all.

And I always remember the late, great comedian Dave Allen, who signed off with…

 

"May your gods go with you." Very Apt

 

Love R x

 

Oops Leona asked for a list of books out this month… feel free to talk amongst yourselves

 

I've started this list on 29^th November, because my free Christmas read from Evernight Publishing came out then… and there are so many due to all the delays and pitfalls the best planned publication dates can fall foul of…

 

Where There's A Will 29^th November (free read, Evernight Publishing

 

The Best Man's Bridesmaid 30^th November (Breathless Press)

 

Vanilla Free Christmas (anthology) 3^rd December (Evernight Publishing)

 

The Perfect Gift 7^th December (Breathless Press)

 

 

Deck Mac Hall 21^st December (Breathless Press)

 

 

 

Teaching Teacher 28^th December (Breathless Press)

 

Wine and Nine 28^th December (The Nuthouse Scribblers, available on Amazon)

 

 

 

That's it folks…

 

www.ravenmcallan.com

 

 

http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=99

 

 

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/raven-mcallan/

 

Thanks Raven!

Lovely woman, even better writer. Here's her author page for Breathless Press :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dianne Hartsock and Shelton's Christmas

Hi there :) The first victim guest for my Christmas/Holiday madness is Dianne Hartsock. A lovely person in her own right, I think you'll fall in love with her character Shelton. Go here to see where the fun all starts. She's giving one (yes, you can choose-the first to get started or the next one in line)away to a lucky commenter who tells her their favorite holiday music : )

The cover is lovely, as always at Breathless Press, and well worth the lookie-lou here:

But, before you get to read the excerpt, I've asked Dianne to share something special, something of a favorite for the holidays, and this is what she shared with us.

Christmas Eve, My Favorite Part of Christmas

You know that song with the line 'the most wonderful time of the year'? Hands down, Christmas Eve is my very favorite day. At our house, December is the month of Birthdays and Christmas parties galore. Which are fun! Make no mistake. But Christmas Eve is the day to take a deep breath of crisp, pine scented air, enjoy the Christmas lights. Then breath out, relax, and live in the moment.

We always gather at my mother-in-law's house for dinner and presents and fun. The whole family is usually there! She makes clam chowder and these super yummy poppers for dinner. Oh, and homemade fudge and caramel corn for desert. Sigh…

This year will be extra-special for me. Both my children have moved away from home (boo) to go to college (yea!), but this Christmas Eve they'll both be at dinner, then spend the night at home and have Christmas morning with us. Presents from Santa and hot cinnamon rolls and all the rest.

So, I guess what this all comes down to is, having a day of delicious food and fun and time with family exchanging gifts of love is the best part of Christmas for me.

Merry Christmas!!

Thank you for sharing. What a lovely story. :D See? I told you she was great. And finally, I'll quite teasing you guys and let you get on with it. Here's the excerpt from her latest.

Merry Christmas, Shelton

m/m erotic holiday

 

Buy Link: http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=10&products_id=402

 

Blurb:

 

Can Shelton and Nevil overcome the obstacles of a blizzard, a baby, and one hot redhead and find their way to a merry Christmas? 

 

Shelton and Nevil have rented a cozy cabin in the mountains in which to spend the Christmas holiday. Tree is lit. Presents sparkle. Shelton anticipates a very merry Christmas indeed. But then a blizzard springs up, landing a sexy redhead on their doorstep looking like trouble in a pretty package.

 

Tommy brings a message for Nevil, but when he first hits on Shelton in the shower, then offers to drive Nevil to his sister's side while she has her baby, Shelton begins to wonder just how this mixed up Christmas is going to end.

 

Excerpt:

 

Shelton snuggled into the soft quilts, safe and warm while the wind howled against the thick walls of the cabin. A stray gust blew down the chimney, causing the flames to dance and crackle behind the screen. Firelight flickered on the ceiling and Shelton watched it mingle with the blue and green reflections from the Christmas tree in the corner.

 

The clock on the mantle chimed midnight and he smiled. Christmas Eve. Nevil snorted and moved restlessly and Shelton rolled to his side, spooning up against the sleek body that even after two and a half years together could still drive him crazy with need. His darling sighed and settled back into sleep, and Shelton nuzzled his neck, pleasantly sore and sated from their earlier lovemaking.

 

His face heated as he recalled the things his lover had done with him. Shelton pressed his forehead into his darling's shoulder blade, slightly embarrassed even though Nevil slept and didn't see him. They'd spent the day cross-country skiing, then returned to the cabin and warmed up in the shower. Afterward, they sipped a bottle of wine in front of the fireplace.

 

Nevil had stolen a candy cane from the tree. "Desert," he explained, settling into the quilts with an arm across Shelton's bare shoulders. Shelton watched the red and white stripes disappear between his lover's perfect lips and his dick thickened. Nevil caught his rapt gaze, leaned over, and gave him a peppermint kiss.

 

"Taste?" he asked and held the candy to Shelton's lips. Shelton caught the cane between his teeth and his darling gasped slightly as he sucked with purpose on the sweet end. "Oh, lord," Nevil said, sounding breathless, and pushed Shelton down and straddled him. His hard cock pushed against Shelton's stomach when he stretched across him and licked at the cane still caught in his lips.

 

Removing the candy, Nevil gave him a deep, lingering kiss, then pulled back, a gleam of mischief in his eyes. "I know somewhere else I'd like to stick this," he confessed and gave the candy a provocative lick.

Shelton blinked, though he shouldn't have been surprised by anything Nevil's wicked imagination suggested. "I'm not sure..."

 

His sweetheart chuckled, but his voice was a caress when he bent to Shelton's ear and whispered, "Let me pleasure you, love."

 

Dianne Hartsock

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/diannehartsock

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4707011-dianne-hartsock

 

 

Christmas is coming and see what I have!

I love Christmas! Lots of traditions galore. I've had a rough few months with my health, so I've not been writing or posting like I'd want to be. I have been editing like a crazy woman though!! This is going to be the first of many Christmas book related blogs :) I'm starting with mine that's already available for preorder and available on sale! $2.24, The Captain's Christmas is an exciting sci-fi adventure.

And, if you buy direct from the publisher, they have special sales happening for a limited time :) The more you spend, the more you save! It's really an awesome deal.

And the captain is a really awesome character :) Come and meet her! (blurb and excerpt on pub site)

I'm giving away a copy to a lucky commenter! The more the merrier. Tell me, what's your favorite and least favorite part of the holidays?

Blog tour day two

Hi everyone!! I'm so excited!! Lots happening this week! First off, I had made it up to #22 in M/F category as of last night at one all romance book provider site :) Don't forget to check yesterday's post for Day one on the blog tour. Today's is here and you want to comment! All commenters are entered in for a chance at a $20 gift card :)

And don't forget my guest blog post. Today's the last day to enter the contest! Even if you've already bought my book, please comment anywhere you see them doing these interviews/hostings. If you win my book, I will send it to whomever you wish. What a neat gift! I love books. My standard gift is a book--or two. LOL

In fact, I have two book on their way already for Christmas presents :) See? I love books LOL I've had a nutso morning, and not yet had caffeine. Can't there be some universal law which says no bad can happen before morning caffeine? It's absolutely driving me batty.

OY and I've just been reminded we're leaving for the day. But I might not go. I have too much to do. WOW. What a day. When I tried to comment on today's blog tour, I was told my javascript was disabled...WTH??? So I did an update, installed it, (which meant had to shut all internet windows) then rebooted. Sigh. I'd already had all my stuff set up for work for the day. What a headache!

Okay, it's been decided that I'm going. I can run down to hot spot with my tablet if my phone doesn't get working. Sigh. Time to go :) Have a great day!

Happy Christmas!!

So, how have you all been these past few weeks? I've been up and down. But last night about this time I was screaming for joy :D I had a small press offer me a contract on a submission I'd sent them. For those who follow my blog, this is the story that was originally 12k+ that I had turned in. I got a detailed rejection that I understood to mean, fix and resend (probably cuz that's pretty much what it said! ;) and so I got to work.

The notice came at the tail end of my daughter's brain surgery recovery, and I had to put it off a bit. But I was able to finish the rough draft by mid June (looking at my blogs/FB messages) sent it off to critique partner, who got it back to me about a week after I got a job. Figures, right?

Anyway, I finished it up, finally, adding a few scenes, etc., ending up over 55k+ on the word count before sending it off. Well, they liked the changes and I'm now dizzy with relief and excitement. I'd been going through one of those writing funks that makes me doubt, for a moment, my ability to write. It lasted for a week. One of my longest ever! Needless to say, the offer brought me straight out of it :D

I'm ready to tackle the other half of my Fantasy story for Splintered lands, or maybe write up a couple shorts, or maybe all of the above :) Have to get it done! lol I know I can do it, and my belief in myself is back, which is what I need to get things accomplished in a timely manner!

Happy Christmas to me! lol And to all of you, may everyone have a dream come true!

I'm baaack

Today, I went Christmas shopping. My husband got his Christmas Bonus in the shape of a gift card. I'm not going to say the amount he got, but it wasn't large. I was happy it was anything. This is first job either one of us has had that has given any bonus. So we went shopping.

I hate shopping. We ended up saying we will get x or x if there are still any. The next payday is the Friday before Christmas. We ended up getting a stool. (I am short!) garbage bags and a miter tool for making frames, etc.

My husband is making shelves so that I can get my canvases put up, so they will hopefully quit getting destroyed. Also, it will give me more organizational room in the craft/sewing/art room. Hopefully, when this round is done, I will quit losing large $$ amounts in things to mice (number 1 culprit) dogs, kids, and the cat. I will also hopefully quit losing large amounts of time to having to clean/organize the new mess! That is what I am hoping for. I need that time, either for writing or for relaxing. I am so far behind on cleaning and relaxing :)

Catching up, though, catching up. :)

Last night, while baby took nap, I was able to get at least 12 pages of post-beta reader edits done. In doing so, I ended up 200 words ahead! And that's with erasing some things. Like had. Too, too many hads... I love having a beta reader who can explain. It's like having a doctor who can explain. It's awesome. It is the first real progress I've made on my writing since the computer crashed, and let me tell you, IT. FELT. GOOD. :D so good. I love writing. It's in my blood. I think, being creative is in my blood. Anytime being creative is withheld from me, I feel imprisoned.

Now, I have the scent. I have some really good ideas and know where I'm needing to go. I can't wait for it to be finished. My wish now, that I had glasses...

new day

Well, it is a new day. Now, while reading the following, please keep in mind that my spirit is in a better frame of mind then yesterday. Also, writing does come in somewhere... *G*

My 2 yo fights sleep like some people fight each other in boxing rings. He will actually scratch/slap himself to wake himself up. Some nights are worst than others. Last night was a bad one.

Well, okay, I wanted to do some more baking. I had made chocolate cake and cupcakse and frosting earlier and wanted to make more frosting and cookies. One, small problem. A single solitary beater has gone missing between the kids lick the frosting off and the dishwasher stage.

I have looked everywhere. I'm afraid the 2 you may have gotten it and thrown it away. I'm afraid to look. But I ended up making frosting with my bread beater attachments. Worked okay. It was more work. No way am I going to be able to make any sort of whipped things like meringue etc.

Now, this morning, after being up until close on 6, I got up at 5 to 7 and woke up 6 and 9 yo and got them moving. Told them they had better make it to bus stop or else...

About 10 am I heard someone messing with our electronics and thought we were being ripped off (wouldn't be first time!) so I was startled awake. I turn over and jump up. One small, teensy, itty bitty problem? There was no more bed to turn over to. Yep. That's right. I fell off the bed. I hurt my whole left side, my back and neck.

Well, turns out to be my boys. I went out to the living room seeking blood. Well, turns out, my 9 yo turned wrong on his bad ankle (He hurts the same one over and over again. Yes, he is most definitely NOT adopted. #co-ruler of Klutzville here.), twisted it, fell, and 6 yo tripped on him and fell on the ankle. I.kid.you.not. All on their way out the door to bus.

I tell him find the brace and I turn around and go back to sleep. Around noon, I here my teen. I'm thinking, wow, I slept til 3? Sweet! Why don't I feel any better. Oh yeah. fell off bed. I get up check my thousand tweets on my phone and go. Um it's not three. I go out there and he's couging to beat the band again. We've got some sort of bronchitis going through the house and it can take months to go away. I may be stuck home schooling my kids for rest of year. Which really sucks as my teen only needs 5.5 credits to graduate!

When I started this, I still had not found the beater. My 6 yo finally understands WTH we are talking about, runs to his room, and comes back with it. LOL

Someone said I live on the edge of the Chaos Vortex. I'm starting to think my family is the epicenter and inner winds! We have our moments of ultimate togetherness then all hell breaks loose :D The calm and the winds, yep, that would be us. Although, maybe I should buy stock in Duct tape... and ace bandages!

So, after hearing this story, why would anyone in their right mind think that I could possibly be in better spirits then I was yesterday?

For one thing, I have an EXCELLENT Beta Reader, @Techsurgeons on twitter. Who gave me excellent advice. I feel freer now due to his advice. I am one of those people who read everything and try to do it by the book. One of those fallacies is not using contractions in good literature. I have spent so much time going through manuscripts and it has turned out to be good as I have occassionally been lazy and used it's inappropriately. I do know the grammar, just would type like people speak.

However, I went too far to the extreme. What has this baking time done for me? Even with all the setbacks? I can sit back and think of plots and my brain can work on it without the pressure of ME and all the damned rules floating around in my head. I know how to tell a good story. I have a natural instinct for plot and clues etc. It's all the stinking rules that trip me up.

So, yeah, despite all the stuff, things are starting to look up again. My beater is found, my tree has beautiful ornaments that my husband bought me as a gift to help me feel better from my loss. (that is a whole other story that would make the most hard hearted person cry, so I am not going to tell it until I have some objectivity back) My kids are enjoying the whole baking process, I made really, really good cake for first time in my life, and we are making gingerbread houses tonight.

And I'm going to sing happy things whenever I want to get down. Everyone laughs at my singing... Even the dog.

In the meantime, I'm going to plot away, enjoy my kids, and be thankful for friends and family that have all helped me get through this.

PS my online friends have been there. It is you I am thankful for, right now.

Politically Correct

Now, I have friends of multiple religious persuasions and respect all of them (with the possible exception of atheism as I haven't made up my mind about that one yet because the ones I know are harshest against my own religion). That being said, I love this poem I found today. Christmas is my favorite time of year, and that combined with a recent article in Times magazing which talked about helcopter parents and how we all hover over our children too much made this apropo for me this year. (I agree with the article. Parents are NUTS!)

‘Twas the night before Christmas and Santa’s a wreck…
How to live in a world that’s politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to “Elves,”
“Vertically Challenged” they were calling themselves.


And labor conditions at the North Pole
Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.
Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.


And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!


The runners had been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.
And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops.


Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened.
His fur trimmed red suit was called “Unenlightened.”
And to show you the strangeness of life’s ebbs and flows,
Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose
And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation,
Demanding millions in over-due compensation.


So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,
Who suddenly said she’d enough of this life,
Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz,
Demanding from now on her title was Ms.


And as for the gifts, why, he’d ne’er had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion.
Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,
Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.


Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot.
Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys.


Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.
Nothing that’s warlike or non-pacific.
No candy or sweets…they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.


And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.
For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.


No baseball, no football…someone could get hurt;
Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.
Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe’;
And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.


So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed;
He just could not figure out what to do next.
He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,
But you’ve got to be careful with that word today.


His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.
Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right.


A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion;
Every ethnicity, every hue,
Everyone, everywhere…even you.


So here is that gift, it’s price beyond worth…
“May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth.”


copyright Harvey Ehrlich, 1992
Notice: This poem is copyright 1992 by Harvey Ehrlich. It is free to distribute, without changes, as long as this notice remains intact.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or Yule or Hanukah, the lesson here can be seen.Think about it.

Merry Christmas!

countdown to Chrismas

It's December 21st, I think. I'm donw to a tickle in my throat and being exhausted but getting better. We've finished wrapping our presents and if I didn't know we were moving, I'd be sad. Have to save the money for the move. Our van is acting up and we will be taking it in tomorrow. I'm sick of car trouble, that's for sure.

It needs to be working before we move and that's in less than two weeks! UGH. The week after Christmas is going to be hectic as my MIL and daughter will be here. I would prefer our van worked by then as we want to tour the missions here in San Antonio with them.

I'm fixing on finishing up a couple of stories, but between cleaning house after being sick, my appointment today and the van I'm ready to pull my hair out! I have a contest for Winds of Fire though so IT WILL BE DONE. I HAVE SPOKEN. **insert scary voice there. lmao

When I get all moved to Washington, I'm hoping to sponsor a contest and if it has arrived, I will be giving away a signed copy of a romantic comedy, and another book, sorry not signed of an historical romance. I haven't decided which will be first or the criteria yet, so I'll have to think about it. I just know I'm going to do the give away for all my LOYAL fans :) They are both good books in their genre.

I'm going to go back to work now and print the info on Chicago that I need to finish Winds of Fire and get it entered into the contest.

Sick

So that earlier sickness I mentioned? Strep throat in the worst way. I've started to blog a few times since but couldn't sit up long enough to get through my email, much less a posting of any lenght or quality. Although, with my high fever, it may have been interesting to see what I wrote!

I tried to work a bit, outlining a series, etc, but I didn't get very far. Did ask a few questions/comments and learn a few things but no real work got done.

I do believe that my short story may be turning into a novel so I'm going to get started now. Plus, outline the series better as my feverish brain only imagined it wrote things down. Of course, the way I felt, it may be written down in blood somewhere for all I know. I was in a real bad way. My kids alternated between taking full advantage of a mom who can't talk much less raise her voice (Yeah, quiet you in the peanut gallery)and looking pretty scared when they saw me. I was miserable and you could tell with barely a glance.

I am looking forward to Christmas. I did get a couple wrapped day before yesterday cuz I felt a little better, but I exhausted myself so did nothing yesterday. My son keeps asking to wrap a packing box, as he calls it, which is actually a wipies holder for the diaper bag :D I said when I'm done wrapping presents. Oh lordie, for a five year old its been an interminable wait. Finally, late yesterday, I told him if he asks again I was going to let Isaac (the baby) wrap it!

He looked at me in confusion and said, "But Isaac can't wrap!" and I said, "Exactly!" He gave me a look like I had lost my mind and fled to his room to ponder what I meant.

I'm tortuing my 16 yr old with it as he was with me when I bought his christmas present and he wrapped it himself and has spent the last two weeks bugging me to open it LOL I said NOPE. That's all you're getting. It's been funny. He's been very creative about it. Like, I could do the dishes faster if I could just use that ;;) I swear, it's been more fun than presents I've bought him in years LOL

I'm moving to WA so presents are light this year, mostly books. I think Josh present is the only exception to that, but I can't remember for sure the way my brain feels right now. Hope everything is well with the rest of y'all. :D

Merry Christmas :)

A day

I miss the easy title days of NaNoWrimo. Maybe I'll use it anyway, unless I have something special to report LOL. I made my goal yesterday and had the resubmission done quickly and easily ;;) **snort NOT it took all day and the baby was good! It was just things like feeding him, reading and rereading a passage. (If I had to reread it, I rewrote it.) Getting caught up on all the blogs I follow and some more house cleaning, again figuratively and literally. It took most of the day for me, ending with laundry mat for three hours!

I'm gearing up to start the research for my next book(s) and loving the freedom at this stage. Hubby has finished finals so will probably beat him over the head to help with the WIPs awaiting his assistance!

I'm excited for this Christmas. It's going to be a small one as we are gearing up to go home, but we are closer than ever as we've only had each other to depend on down here. We have made a couple of friends that we will miss. Hi Joe, Aurora, Kelly, Shannon, Claudia, Paul. Hope things go well for you.

I love Christmas and will probably harp on it a bit LOL I went cheesy and finally gave in to the temptation to buy the coke bottles shaped like ornaments. I have them under our fiberoptic tree LOL Wrapping presents for my daughter who will be here two days after to open them. I'm so excited.

Now back to juggling baby and writing :)