December 2020 Finally! & IWSG

 

IWSG WEBSITE

I am so darn happy December is here! (and not only for the snow!) I'm sorry I missed last month's post, and almost missed this one, but in November I was depressed, and, today is my son's birthday!

I feel a lot better this month. Last month I think because of Thanksgiving, I felt the absence of my family too keenly and couldn't write about it. We all made it through and for that I am more than grateful. I still miss the you-know-what out of my parents though. This is a looooong time to go without hugging/touching/seeing them. But I won't jeopardize them just because I miss them.

My son has been living with us all year because of a medical issue. He can't work and is not only in constant pain, but also depressed because of it. Finally, we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. It will take more time and more physical therapy for him to get back to his former self, but it IS working! I/we have much to be grateful for. So, December has not come too soon for me. 

The young lad with his snowman "Churchill!"

The other wonderful piece of news is that my book cover should be finished soon. The edits are finished. The formatting is happening as I write, and hopefully my next novel, "Rain" will be out before Christmas! (Hint, it would make a great present!) Shameless I am. But not about being happy! For the first time in a while, I do genuinely feel happy and hopeful for not only my future, but for our nation's future as well. The Covid vaccine should (hopefully) go a long way toward helping us all heal.

So I am not feeling too insecure today, even if I'm late to post. I feel optimistic and full of love for the world, and especially my son. He is a light in my life and has been since the day he was born 34 years ago. Though I'm sorry for the reason he is with us, I am not sorry he's here! I wish you all the best of the holidays, a Merry Christmas, whatever it is that you celebrate. I also wish us all the best in the new year to come. May we all be able to move on to a life that even though Covid will still be here, hopefully the new year will give us a chance to learn to live with it without fear. Blessings to you.

And before you stop reading, please stop by our wonderful co-hosts this month and thank them for being there for us! 

Pat Garcia, Sylvia Ney,Liesbet @ Roaming About Cathrina Constantine, and Natalie Aguirre!

May is Moving IWSG

IWSG WEBSITE

Sorry All!
"I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!"
Moving will do that to one. We are day one in our "new" house. I meant to write my post last week before the crazy hit, but it hit early and so post didn't get written. I'll write next month when we're a bit more settled (fingers crossed!) Hope all of you are well and safe in the madness that is our life now...
In the meantime, please go and visit our co-hosts for this crazy and beautiful month of May!

Just a lovely memory from France...

The awesome co-hosts for the May 6 posting of the IWSG are 
Feather Stone, Beverly Stowe McClure, Mary Aalgaard, Kim Lajevardi, and Chemist Ken!

March Is Marching In IWSG

IWSG WEBSITE

Today I wanted to share a friend's newest release with you, so will do so after my IWSG post, which is short this month! I know you're happy to hear that.
Writing is making a slow come back for me, but it IS happening. The journey with these characters is coming to fruition, and whew, I am glad. Makes me almost get excited about covers and formatting and such, the next steps...

On to March's question of the month:
Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you every included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?
Yes, yes I have. Growing up we never had only one type of cereal in the house because, and I don't know how it started, but we always mixed our cereals. One was just so boring! So I used this in one of my novels, that hasn't come out yet, but I did use it!

Sneek peek...!

Our amazing IWSG co-hosts this month, besides me, are:

Shannon Lawrence  http://thewarriormuse.blogspot.com/

Sarah Foster http://thefauxfountainpen.blogspot.com/

Natalie Aquirre http://www.literaryrambles.com/

Jacqui Murray https://worddreams.wordpress.com/

Please go by their blogs and thank them for co-hosting this month!!!

Facebook/ Blog/ Website

On to the most exciting news! Elizabeth is a multi-published author of books for people who are believers in happily-ever- after, true love, and stories with a bit of fun and twists with their plots. The mother of four young men, she tackles laundry daily and is the keeper of the kitchen. She lives along the shores of the Ohio River in West Virginia, but dreams daily of the beach. Here is her latest achievement and newest release...

It's about...

Hayden Matthews isn’t looking for love—she’s trying to get as far from it as possible. She's already wasted eight years in a failed marriage and is ready for a good life. A peaceful life. One where she can raise her daughter to be strong, independent, and happy. But to make that happen, she must fix her own life first.

Cam Vorelli has loved Hayden since he was in grade school. Always in the friend-zone, he stood on the sidelines, his heart breaking, as she said I do to the wrong man. A man he knew didn’t deserve her, who could never love her as he did. But what could he say? She was marrying into his family. Cam would never break a holy vow much less be disloyal to his kin.

Until he sees the bruises on Hayden. Abuse is a game changer.

Leaving a husband like Tag, who has a hot temper, a badge, and a gun is tricky. When Hayden calls Cam for help, she isn’t trying to lure him into any romantic webs. She needs someone she can trust and knowing her soon-to-be ex fears his former NFL cousin is a bonus.

When Cam comes to her rescue, he isn’t doing it to win her love. He does it because it’s the right thing to do. But if she starts to feel the same for him…couldn’t it be fate?

Kobo: FREE

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/about-us-a-second-chance-novel

Smashwords FREE

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1004700

Amazon: FREE 

https://tinyurl.com/u6xcrob

This is a "heart" novel, one of hope; one that speaks to all of us and shows the worst as well as the best of who we can be.

IWSG 2020! Another Year Has Gone By...

IWSG 2020

2019 has come and gone and now we move into a new decade. For some reason I used to think decades lasted forever, but of course as I am older now, they don't last long enough.
This year is starting with so much uncertainty in the world. It is also starting with uncertainty in my life. I have only vague ideas of where I/we (my husband and I) will be in six months and even those ideas might not be what actually happens.
So, my word for the beginning of this decade, the beginning of this year is uncertainty, and I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way. I will do my best to "go with the flow" and take one day, one month at a time. I know in reality the next five months will fly by, so I want to be where I am until the future unfolds.
I wish for all of you a wonderful beginning and continuation of 2020. I hope if you too, face uncertainty, that we face it together and roll with whatever comes our way. Good luck in your writing and good luck in life! Happy IWSG day for January!

My hubby and me!

 Question of the month: What started you on your writing journey? Was it a particular book, movie, story, or series? Was it a teacher/coach/spouse/friend/parent? Did you just "know" suddenly you wanted to write?
Honestly, I think it was my father who planted the idea first. When I was very young, my sister and I had to write a story (with or without drawings) only a page or two long, for our allowance. I liked doing it. I think that's where the bug bit me. I went on to keep journals, and then to write seriously. It's a love/hate relationship, but one I can't seem to give up or ignore...

Please go by and thank the awesome co-hosts for the January 8 posting of the IWSG: T. Powell Coltrin, Victoria Marie Lees, Stephen Tremp, Renee Scattergood, and J.H. Moncrieff!