Keeping You Up-To-Date

Well, now, every time I come back, I say "I'm going to blog more!" and I lie. Each and every time, don't I? I can't say for certain what switch was flipped lately but I've really gotten more of the attitude to promote myself and try to keep myself busy with writing. I have been throwing myself wholeheartedly into Seige of Souls. All I can really tell you is, wow, I am excited about this book!

I have been exploring the 'bad guy' in this one recently and he's something else, let me tell you! I didn't realize his depth until I started researching him and thinking more about why he's doing what he's doing. This is good, because that means he'll be an excellent character (I hope!). It's really had me wrapped up in what motivates people to make the choices they make. We can't know what another is going through unless we're walking their path, yet we find ourselves judging others' decision and actions all the time. I do it. I did it just today. This is either going to make for some wonderful writing sessions or some real gut-wrenching, soul-searching, can't get the words on the page moments!

I looked some old poetry lately, too. I found quite a few old notebooks recently and started reading some of the stuff in them. I laughed out loud as some of them, shook my head in wonder and even cringed several times. :) They're all right, though. It kind of took me back to a place where I was so immersed in the writing of it that I didn't care what came out, as long as it all came out on the paper. I enjoy writing and I need to remember that feeling. Sometimes you can get caught up in the politics of it all, the 'rules' and the business-end of writing so much so that you lose that spark; that one little light that ignites the passion. I'm glad I found mine again because it makes me feel good and I think it helps keep me balanced.

So, I've got some thinking to do now about divine magic and gods and all that good stuff. See you soon!

It's Kinda How I Roll

I haven't abandoned you, my readers! I haven't abandoned my writing (although at times it feels that way)!  We're on our way back to normal around my household these days and, who know normal would be so hard?!  Hubby has all devices OFF that broken leg and is back at work, albeit on crutches, or clutches as we call them, for now.  We've been having some behavioral issues with our 14-year-old Aspie as of late, as well and it has consumed a lot of time trying to focus on him and figure all this out.

I have not actually edited much on Reborn lately. I've actually been more focused on the second book, Seige of Souls.  It revolves around a character I totally fell in love with while writing Reborn: Elerbee.  Elerbee is the priestly type, and has started questioning his faith as he notes more and more his god is absent from his life and is failing to grant him his divine powers that helped bring the dragons back in the previous book. His planned trip home to "get back to his roots" is interrupted when he is called to duty once again.  Then there's assassination attempts, a priest gone rogue who is stealing souls to augment his power, a forbidden love, a decision to make...you know the drill. It has CONSUMED me and I am dying to get it all out, almost can't control the urge to write. And, writers, we KNOW when this happens, all you can do is obey.

So, Happy Thursday to you all. I'm off to brainstorm! :)

So Much

Back in August, my husband was in a motorcycle accident.  We have had to cope with so much surrounding this event in our lives that we're starting to regret letting some of my son's issues fall through the cracks.

You know, when Really Important things happen and you have to focus all of your attention on them that the Moderately Important things tend to pile up?  Well, that's kind of what's been happening at my house. When my husband had his accident and broke his leg, it turned our world upside down.  At first, he couldn't do very much for himself and had to have A LOT of attention.  Literally, he could not move from one room to the next without assistance.  He still has to have assistance, but he can move around on his own.  He still has huge metal pins and wires and bolts attached to his leg and it's a chore just to take a shower, but he is more self-sufficient.  Thank the universe!

But with all of this, my son started school and some of the things we normally would be right on top of, fell by the wayside.  He started getting used to being on the computer waaaay more than he should.  And we just let that happen because, you know, we were busy making sure my husband's leg wasn't rotting away and falling off (oh, wait, that was just me worried about that).  After I had been home for about 30 minutes, it was time for dinner, then it was time for the quest normal people call The Shower.  It took an hour and a half, from start to finish, to bath my husband and doctor all the wounds and get him dressed.  Then it was bedtime.  Now, in between all of this, I had to make sure my child did his homework, his chores, took his meds, took his own shower and got to bed on time.  Needless to say, there were some chores that fell through the cracks and some homework that went undone.

In ignoring things like chores and homework, here's what tends to happen: the unfed animals will chew on wires and other such important things around the house, one of the cats will decide her litter box isn't quite tidy enough so, the clean clothes that didn't get folded make for a nice new litter box, and a child who discovers you aren't scrutinizing their homework will tend to not do things or say they did them when, in fact, they didn't and bad grades creep in.  It has been hard trying to right all the wrongs that have cropped up in the past few months.  I can't see how any of it could have been done differently because I was sometimes, literally, dragging because I was so tired of care-giving for everyone, home-making for everyone, cooking for the masses, bringing home the only paycheck we're getting and holding on to my job by the most frayed thread you can imagine.

Some of those things are still happening, but there's some sunlight at the end of this tunnel.  I can see my husband getting better (although there are still bad days intermingled) and getting back to work before the end of the year.  The cat seems to have decided its much better to use the litter box than to be pelted with water from The Water Bottle.  And, the child...well, he's a teenager, I can't say he's really learned anything but mastering the art of arguing about doing homework instead of actually DOING homework.

I Need To Blog

Well, now, hasn't it been a minute since I've seen you all?  A lot has been going on in my life that has kept me from my goals but I am determined to get back into the swing.  I need to write a synopsis, so this will be my focus over the next few weeks.

Recently, my husband was in a motorcycle accident.  He is going to be fine but our road is long and fraught with struggles.  We are positive, trying not to strangle one another with all this "together" time. ;)  He broke his leg just below the knee (both bones broken clean through).  It also severed an artery, which was repaired (he was just cleared by the cardiovascular surgeon this past Friday! YAY!).  He has had two surgeries so far and will only have one more to remove the device on his leg if all goes well, which we are certain it will.  Walking is a mountain he has to climb, but he has started the process of his physical therapy on his own and has already accomplished so much!  BUT, now that my attention can be divided away from him again, I must get my life back on track.

I am a writer.

There, I said it.  Now I have to act like it.  I have a completed manuscript that I have only edited slightly.  It also needs a synopsis.  Since editing doesn't sound like a ride on the merry-go-round to me at present, I have decided to tackle the synopsis.  It's crazy, I know, but someone once told me while I was learning to shoot pool...always take the hardest shot first.  So, here I go, taking the hardest shot.

Have any of you had experience writing this dreaded synopsis?  Let's talk about it!  Share your stories and encouragement and let's get this party started!

Hey Blogging World, I'm Here Again!

I seem to be the world's worst at keeping up with this blogging thing.  Someone's gotta do, right?  SO...I'm editing this summer.  AND I'm finishing the synopsis so I can at least send it out to some people.  I can't just sit around and think about it anymore.  I'm trying to make sure I motivate myself, keep myself busy and stay the course.  It's hard.  You get into a routine and it's very difficult to break.  Since I started school I haven't paid much attention to my writing past what the next paper was going to be about.  Of course, there's been some personal issues that have demanded my full and undivided attention...and sometimes they still do, but I'm trying to learn to juggle.

I haven't read many good books lately, either.  I'm finishing the last George RR Martin book, A Dance With Dragons.  Slowly, but surely, since reading time is reduced to my lunch break at work.  Once I'm home, I'm kind of consumed with the family and the house and anything else that demands I PAY ATTENTION!  I have a shelf full of potential reads that I've been picking up with good intentions and I've told myself I am not allowed to buy more until I can at least make a dent in that!  Do you know how hard it is to turn your back on a wonderful book that you've heard is the most inspiring story of this century?!  Damn hard, I tell you!

I heard about my friends devoting their days to their writing, seeming to accomplish so much with dedication and I beat myself up.  Get with it!  Put your butt in the chair and write!  It sounds so simple.  I have asked several people to police me; to poke me and prod me out of my funk but that hasn't worked.  So far.  I keep telling my husband that I intend to finishe the edits and get the book ready to submit and he nods and smiles and says, "How great!"  I'll find the motivation, I'm sure.  I need to surround myself with more writers - something which I have missed greatly since starting school.  Student writers just aren't the same as being in the thick of a group of hard-core, dedicated, blood & sweat - type serious writers!  I miss it and my muse misses it.

It's been a minute

Ok, so, I've been on hiatus...not a fun one, mind you.  A much needed break to focus on things that need focusing on.  That said, I'm SO ready to get back into writing and editing.  Editing especially!  I haven't looked at the manuscript for "Reborn" in about a month.  My goal: finish up editing the first three chapters and start submitting while I work on the rest.  So, between research and whatnot for the new story, I'll be back to the grind with Mey and Thom.  I have a whole new idea to work into the beginning where it involves Garrin and I'm excited about that and ready to see if I can make it all work.

I think I will tackle this process with some planning.  I'm not normally a planner when it comes to my writing - I am a pantser (writing by the seat of my pants).  Every other aspect of my life is planned, though.  Funny how that works.  I am going to try to at least get some direction firmly in place before I start cutting, pasting and reworking.

Short post today, guys.  Gotta get back to housework but I had to make myself sit down and do this so I can start getting back in the habbit!  Thanks for visiting.

Tagged...?!

Yup, tagged.  I've seen these in facebook and emails, but never in blogs, so I just gotta do it!  Here goes:


What do you think of when you the hear the word tag?
...along...and dem are some of the best Girl Scout cookies, too!

Do you think you're hot?
Nope...air conditioning just where it needs to be! ;)

Upload a picture or wallpaper that you're using at the moment.
So, this is my good friend who just celebrated her 40th birthday!  We had a blast celebrating & I love her to pieces!  I was recently uploading these pics, so that's why I chose it.

When was the last time you ate chicken?
um....Monday night.  Chicked salad at Texas Roadhouse.  YUMMY!

The song(s) you listened to recently.
"Rolling In The Deep" by Adele...I'm totally in love with her right now. 

What were you thinking as you were doing this?
That I really should be in bed because the writing conference is tomorrow!  Early.  Really early.

Do you have nicknames? What are they?
A very good friend gave me the moniker of "Ewok" back in high school.  He said it sounded like Lela.  It doesn't.  I have a couple of friends that call me "Lee".

Tag 8 blogger friends:
Weeeell...I don't have 8 blogger friends and the ones I DO have, have already been tagged, so, the next part  this will be blank...at least I fulfilled my "tagged" duties! :P

Who's listed as No. 1?

Say something about No. 5.

How did you get to know No. 3?

How about No. 4?

Leave a message for No. 6.

Leave a lovey dovey message for No. 2.


Do 7 and 8 have any similarities?