Things that make me smile.

I have to admit...not everything makes me smile. I know, gasp, but it's true. I wish I could own up to being a peppy, happy, upbeat go getter, that can have three out of five kids sick with 103.5 fever, a messy house, and a smile? Yeah, so not happening. 

But there are a few things that made me happy today!

#1. Christmas music. My favorites are: Breath of Heaven, Joseph's Lullaby, and All I want for Christmas is You (Mariah Carey). 

#2. I got onto the blog tonight and noticed a new follower. Who is the lucky number 341? My dear hubby! It took over three years and 340 other followers for him to join. I swear he loves me :)

#3. I just tackled my first 250 words for this contest.

Young Adult Novel Discovery Contest



I can now say that I've rewritten my first page...oh...maybe 100 times? My book has come a long way. I love the beginning now. Maybe I'll post it on here soon! 

If you want to enter this contest, go now! Like, drop what you're doing and get over there. It closes on November 30. Yes, it's been open for a month, but I just heard about it and got my entry in on time! 

I've seen this contest in years past, but never felt like I was ready to enter. There is a 15$ charge but hopefully it will pay off for me :)

So, my friends, what made you smile today?

A time to remember...

Remember how I used to post on here quite regularly? What in the world happened?

#1. I had baby number 5. Pretty much self explanatory.

#2. That baby had colic for three months. 

#3. One month after the colic ended, we decided to put our house on the market.

#4. A month later (mid-August) the house is still on the market but we decide to look for other work opportunities in a place more desirable to live.

#5. A month later we get an interview in Boise, ID.

#6. Two weeks later we get offered that job.

#7. Two weeks later we are packed up and on our way to start the new job, leave the unsold house, max out all stress levels moving to another state, dealing with a short sale, registering three kids for a school that has twice the workload than the last one, and trying to get settled.

#8. A month later, that's today, we are still trying to settle.

And my writing? Totally on the back burner. It kills me too because I was almost done with a rewrite and wanted to be querying...a month ago :( That's life I suppose. My writing time will come again. Hopefully soon!

So, if you are reading this, thanks for returning. I hope to be able to post more often soon!

Have a great week and happy writing!

And for all those hard core NaNo writer's, good luck!

Oh hello...

Yes, it basically took that much time to get over the awesomeness of WriteOnCon. Not to mention get my kids started in school and get in the swing if things. 

But I've started another round of revisions and am back to critiquing. I love it! 

I have a few exciting things to tell you.

First of all, have you read these?

  

If you love fantasy as much as me...you better read them! I have to say one thing though (besides the fact that they are a vortex of awesomesauce), Liar's Moon comes after Star Crossed and it kind of leaves you hanging. The worst part? I can not find anywhere that she is writing the next one! It's KILLING me! The character's are so well written with an intense story line that delivers at a great pace. And I need more!


The other crazy, amazing, awesome, super duper thing that I have to tell you...is better said by the person it comes from :) Head over to Shallee McArthur's blog for some happy news!

I hope you have a great week! Happy writing :)

Where will you be?

For the next week I'll be busy. Where will I be? Hanging out here.

If you've never heard of it, get over there right now! It's the best online writing conference...and it's free. You can't get any better than that. The critique forums are open right now, but the real deal is next week. Get ready for awesomeness!

And if anyone is new to my blog from WriteOnCon, it's nice to meet you. I hope to see you around :)

So...where will you be?

"Hate" words.

My seven year old daughter and I had an interesting conversation in the car today. I was telling her that she needs to practice swimming in order to get better.


"There are some words I don't like Mom," she told me.


I said, "Oh, like what?"


"I don't like the word "practice." I don't like the word "learn." And I don't like the word "happily ever after." 


"Why don't you like happily ever after?"


"Because it's boring."


Boring? How could she not like Happily Ever After's? Those are my favorite! But what if people are sick of happily ever after's? 


I've seen a lot of 'realistic' endings to books lately. You know the not so happily ever after, this is life endings. They're good, but not my type. I read a book to escape the boring every day to day things. If I wanted a tragedy, I'd watch the news. 


So, what's your type? Are you bored of the Happily Ever After endings?

I got a feelin'...

Feelin' like it's time to write again! I've got that itch...and it's time to scratch! My baby's colic is GONE! She turned 12 weeks and it just ended. No more consistent ongoing crying. I feel my sanity returning bit by bit. And with it comes that itch to write. I'm SO excited!


So what's my plan? Well, I want to go over my genie book again and get some more queries out. That's my plan until WriteOnCon in August. After that, I plan on writing another first draft. I can't get enough of them! There's something thrilling about creating a new story.

What has been going on with everyone? I just got back from Utah and wish I could have visited with more friends. My luck is the worst. Every time we go to Utah, my kids get sick. And this time we passed the stomach bug the whole two weeks. But I did get to visit with two of my favorite writer friends!

Here is my friend, Shallee. We've been friends since grade school and she is a fantastic writer!

And here is my friend, Chantele. We're friends through blogging and one day, we'll actually get to hang out...not just stop by her exit on my way out of town. I know, I'm horrible. But we were all sick. And this is me, ready for a ten hour car ride, with a new haircut. I've had better moments. 

I'm so glad I got to see my friends! One day I will meet more of you. I promise :)

Here's a look at the new cut. It's extreme, but fun and super easy to do. Just what I need with five kids!

Well, tomorrow is the 4th of July and we're ready to celebrate! If anyone else is celebrating this holiday, have a great day and be safe!

AWESOME Cover Reveal!!!

My great friend, Chantele Sedgwick, got her book cover! It's full of awesomeness. I can't wait to read this book. 


Here's the cover and blurb! 

Awesome right? I LOVE me a book with a fairytale twist! 
Want to know what it's about? 


Ash Summerland has it all–good looks, popularity, and the best grades at The Academy of Magical Beings. Ready to complete his last assignment in order to graduate, Ash is confident he will get the apprenticeship he wants. When he opens the letter from the Council, he is shocked to discover he has been assigned to apprentice Lady Shenelle, Keeper of Happy Endings. A.K.A. the head fairy godmother. Ash is forced to grant three wishes to a troubled human girl named Kendall, and ultimately give her a "happy ever after". But Kendall turns out to be more than he bargained for. Still grieving over her father's death, Kendall doesn't want anything to do with him. And worst of all, she doesn't believe in happy endings. 


If you don't know Chantele, or even if you do, head over to her blog. The book releases August 1st! Be sure to go here to add it to your goodreads list :) 


Have a great weekend!