Major Depression

I was driving out to see a friend on Monday, after working a 12-hour shift at the hospital and I was thinking of posting a blog regarding major depression. I had it all worked out in my head, I just had to get home to type it up onto my computer. However, when I finally got home and turned on my computer, I found out about Robin Williams and this post just seemed cliché. That being said, I can't get this out of my head, so you get the post anyway. Just keep in mind, I'm not doing this because of the recent celebrity suicide.
They say one in four people suffer from major depression at one point in their lives. What a lot of people don't realize is that some people may have feelings of depression for a period of time, while others deal with it their entire lives. I'm in the latter group. I don't suffer from major depression, I live with it. There are days when things are okay, that I can cope and manage things, and even manage to be genuinely happy.
Then there are the dark days, the days where it's an accomplishment to even get out of bed. These are usually the days I try not talking to anyone, because I don't even want to be around myself. So, of course, these are also the days when I either have to work or everyone and their brother wants to talk to me. Murphy's Law.
I was very suicidal as a child. When I was eleven, one of my great-uncles died, and it devastated my younger brother. Watching him mourn the death of someone we both admired and loved opened my eyes to the selfish behavior of suicide. While I still thought that people would get over it in a matter of days, I couldn't put my brother through even that small amount of grief. It wasn't fair to him.
So I pushed myself to find things that made life worth living. I challenged myself to succeed, to be positive, to find peace and grab it with everything I could. I surround myself with positive people; collecting positive sayings and quotes like they're air and I'm suffocating. Most days, it's good. Most days, I can find a way to see the good in people, situations, and things.
Other days, well, that's what writing is for.
I guess what I really want you to know is that you're not alone. If or when you feel that no one understands you, that you're all alone in the world, or that people would be better off without you, know that I'm here. There are others too, who feel your pain. While we may not experience the same triggers, there are others out there who understand and can empathize with what you are feeling. And even though you may not believe it, or feel the truth of these words, please remember, you're special to someone. You may not know it, and they may never tell you, but everyone is special to someone on this earth - because of you, they are a better person.
So go out there, live your life, smile and give someone a hug today. You never know how much they could actually need that. <3

Procrastination

Working two jobs, being a cat mommy, a wife to a very spoiled man (whom I love dearly), and trying to get a writing career off the ground is exhausting. I absolutely hate cleaning the litter boxes and have been putting it off for almost 30 hours now. I don't want to clean them, but I also don't want to smell cat crap either. Sigh. Why can't things in life be more fun?
What things do you procrastinate doing? How do you waste your time while procrastinating? Me, well, today it was The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, and Jaws 3 on AMC. Such a waste of a day, especially when I already own the first two movies and could have watched them when I was finished with the litter boxes and in half the time as them being on tv. lol.
I am now off to clean these stinky boxes, clean my office, and do a bit of sewing, if time permits. I have to be to bed early for work in the morning. <3

Comment alerts

For some reason, I'm not getting comment alerts like I should be. I do apologize for my late responses to some of you, but I'm working on rectifying this problem. It is my mid-year goal as well to post more frequently. Can someone please kick my butt occasionally if I start to slip? lol. I love you guys!

Self Publishing Summit

I am speechless. I was asked to join a Self Publishing Summit held at Truckee Meadows Community College this fall. It will be Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 6p.m. - 8p.m. and I would love to see you there!

"Discover which self-publishing options are best suited for you and your book from four authors who chose various publishing routes. Delve into book release timing, budgeting, marketing and more. After an information-packed presentation, ask panelists your questions and learn about the pros and cons of starting your own publishing imprint, publishing through a large house’s self publishing imprint, and doing it yourself through CreateSpace, Kindle and Smashwords platforms."

If you're in the Reno-Sparks area, and want to chat with authors, grab some books, and hear some valuable information, sign up and say hi! Here are the bios of the other authors:

Virginia Castleman

TMCC's writing instructor since 2001, Virginia authored the book "Mommi Watta-Spirit of the River," a Liberian legend, along with other children's articles. Recently, Simon and Schuster picked up her self-published novel, Strays, and will be releasing it next year. Besides teaching Writing For Children at TMCC, she is the regional advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Virginia has a bachelor's degree in english and a master's in interdisciplinary studies from California State University-Chico.

Kathleen Berry

Kathleen Berry has managed the TMCC Writers’ Conference and the Nevada Ghost and Paranormal Series since 2008. She has worked with many of the West's best paranormal investigators and psychics. Stemming from her experiences, Kathleen published her spirituality memoir, "A Reluctant Spirit: A True Tale of God, Ghosts and a Skeptical Christian" and writes a weekly blog at www.kathleenberry.com. Her book has received national accolades from Kirkus Reviews, calling her memoir “intriguing” and “a gripping account.” She’s authored dozens of articles for international and regional magazines, including Automobile Quarterly, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Nevada Magazine and more. She’s been a featured guest on the nationally syndicated Coast to Coast A.M. with George Noory—a program that’s heard by three million listeners across North America. A marketer and accredited public relations professional with thirty years of experience, Kathleen has been employed by Truckee Meadows Community College since 1996.

Patricia Cafferata

Attorney, author and historian, Patty Cafferata is a life-long resident of Reno, Nevada. She has had a diverse career in the law and politics. She served in the Nevada Assembly and when she was elected Nevada State Treasurer in 1982, she became the first woman elected to any constitutional office in the state. Cafferata has also served as district attorney of Lincoln, Lander and Esmeralda counties. Cafferata wrote and published seven books on Nevada history. These books include: The Goldfield Hotel: Gem of the Desert; Mapes Hotel: The History of Reno’s Landmark Hotel and Casino; Lake Mansion: Home to Reno’s Founding Families; More than a Song and a Dance: The Heyday of Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City, Nevada, circa 1863 to 1897; Tales of the Biggest Little City in the World: A Collection of Patty Cafferata’s columns on Reno, Nevada, Vol. I, II and III. And, she co-authored her mother’s memoirs, Barbara F. Vucanovich: From Nevada to Congress and Back Again published by the University of Nevada Press. Her latest book Christmas in Nevada, a history of how Nevadans have and continue to celebrate the holiday, will be released by the University of Nevada Press in the Fall of 2014.

Exciting news!

I've been waiting until everything was finalized before I shared this with you all, and now I finally can!
I have recently partnered up with a creative team called Blue Harvest Creative. They do everything for me that a traditional publishing house would do, and more. I'm extremely excited to be partnering with them, and can't wait to see how they will transform my books!
We are starting with the Zombie War books, and together, we have decided to combine the trilogy into one book with three parts. Currently we are in the editing process, and for that alone, I'm thrilled. I think that the transformation of the Zombie War books is going to be something that you will enjoy even more than I.
You will be the first to know when the new and improved book will be available. I can't wait! :)

Another year older...

I've had a difficult time getting older ever since I turned 30. My 30th was absolutely amazing - I was excited, threw a huge party, and became gloriously drunk. It was one of the best birthdays I can remember having.
Today I turn 33. I know some of you are saying, "what?! You're only 33?" I know, I'm older than I look. While others are groaning, "you are such a kid! You have so much life ahead of you, how can you be upset about being 33?" I know what you're thinking, because it's the same thing I say to my younger friends. And you're right. But that doesn't change anything.
For the past month, I've been increasingly frustrated and fighting depression. Part of that has been because I've had to return to health care (my second job isn't progressing like my boss and I had thought it would have) and had to work last night and tonight, and part of that is because I'm not where I want to be in my life.
Two things happened tonight that have released the birthday blues from my shoulders at the start of the day. First, I was able to leave work early. Not having to work, or get more work if someone else left early, was such a wonderful present.
Secondly, before I left work I had a conversation with one of the nurses and finally figured out why I've felt so poopy lately. We were talking about me not being as perky as I usually am, and I told her that it was my birthday. I don't like becoming older, because I'm not where I want to be in life. I feel like, for me, I should have accomplished something of note by now. Everyone I know has kids, or is pregnant, and either is a stay-at-home mom, or has a good job that they mostly enjoy. I don't have any of that. I have a dream that I'm working towards, but I'm not there yet. I feel like I should at least be able to see things coming to fruition. She planted the seed that I probably am better off than I think.
Thirdly, as I was driving home, I opened the moonroof and watched the moon as I drove. For me, there's something so therapeutic about the moon. I'm at peace at night, under the moonlight. While I was driving, stealing glances up into the sky, I finally relaxed and became excited about today.
I'm not where I want to be, but I'm trying. There are good things on the horizon with my writing, and the rest of my life is tolerable. While I'm not a fan of health care, I have a good job, in a good hospital, and am able to pay my bills with money left to put towards the books. I know what I want out of life, and even though it feels as if I'm stuck, I'm still taking steps forward. That's the most important thing. So while I may be 33, and not where I want to be, I'm headed in the right direction.

Renaissance Faire at Artown!

Come One, Come All! 

This Sunday (July 6, 2014) Marissa Ames and I will be present at the Nevada Opera's Renaissance Fair in Wingfield Park. This is part of the Reno is Artown celebration and we are inviting YOU!!

Books and swag will be available for signing and purchase from 10am - 9pm, or until we sell out! And of course there will be giveaways!

Get there early to meet your favorite authors! 

Marissa Ames

Crossing genres, Marissa Ames writes fantasy fiction and blogs for multiple venues, including a national poultry magazine. Her debut novel, Minstrel, begins the medieval-based fantasy series of Tir Athair. She is currently working on Vassal, the second novel in the Tir Athair series, and collaborates with many worthy writers on diverse anthologies. Marissa has written stories since age 8, instilling her lifelong fascination with medieval history into her work. In her real life, she manages a day job, a husband and two teenage children, and an entire urban farm just a mile south of downtown Reno, Nevada, in the United States.

"Reno readers: I'll be giving away a swag package to the first person who approaches our book-signing booth and claims they "seek wheat and rye." The swag package includes signed print copies of both MINSTREL and DARRION, bookmarks, a tote bag courtesy of Blue Harvest Creative, and a sword or tiara for each child in the group! I'm only giving away one, so be the first to use the secret words!"

Jean Booth

Jean Booth was born in the sweltering Las Vegas desert. She moved about during her childhood until returning to her roots in northern Nevada. She is happily married with 9 cats as her children. For the entirety of her adult life she has worked in health care, battling insurances and limited staffing to provide great care to those who need it. Her greatest escapes are the stories found in books and in her head that she has finally decided to share.

"I'll be giving away a swag package to the first person who approaches our book-signing booth and claims "brains pair well with a nice chianti." The swag package includes signed print copies of Zombie War: The Trilogy, a tote bag courtesy of Blue Harvest Creative, and a sword or tiara for each* child in the group! I'm only giving away one, so be the first to use the secret words!"

Romantic

Fourteen years ago in September, I met Bry. Things moved very quickly in our relationship, and we were happy. In the spring after we met, he took me up to the lake that he and his friends went camping and boating at. As we drove higher and higher into the mountains, the air chilled and the snow started falling. We pulled up to the boat dock and I was worried that we would become stuck in the snow that was still lying on the ground. Bry was more concerned about the water level in the lake. 

The snow was still melting, and falling, but the lake was very low. The waterline didn't even reach the boat dock. He told me stories of his camping adventures, and how much fun they had in the summers on the boat and drinking. I couldn't wait to hang out with them all, camping, fishing, and having fun in the water. I loved the water and was thrilled to finally be able to go on a boat and swim. 

We jumped back into his car, drove up to the place they camped, and got out to look around. He showed me the camp site, snuggled, and let me look at the beauty of the lake surrounded by snow covered mountains. When I turned around to go back to the car, he was leaning against a table, carving our names into the already covered surface. I smiled, my heart melting a bit - no one had ever done that before. 

Fourteen years later, we drove up to that same lake.

The water line was even lower than it had been the first time we were there. It reinforced my worries about a drought season, and had me praying for snow, something I never did.

It was freezing, just as it had been the first time we were there, and both of us were in tee-shirts. He wanted to see the boat dock, and I secretly wanted to see if our carving was still there. The water didn't even come close to the dock. It was almost a football field away, forcing people to drive their boats and trucks through the dried-up lake to get to the water. We were horrified at how low the water line was. 

However, it provided perfect access to the table where our names were carved. So, in the comfort of our heated truck, Bry drove us through the dirt-that-should-be-water lake and over toward the campsite. There, in the chilly evening, with snow threatening to fall, we found our carving.

I couldn't believe it! After all these years, the table with our names on it was still there, with the declaration of us still marked into its surface. Bry wasn't satisfied, so he renewed our carving. 

"Now it will be there for sure, for another thirteen years," he said to me with chattering teeth.

I smiled up at him, shivering too much to talk. Hand-in-hand we ran back to the truck with the heat blasting. 

"I can't believe it was still there," I said as my body started warming. "I can't believe that table has never moved, or that someone didn't carve over it. How many people do you think have carved their names somewhere and are still together, thirteen years later?"

I didn't really expect an answer, and didn't get one. I just watched the snow fall outside my window as we drove off the mountain and home to our kitties, my heart warming with renewed love for my husband.

Reprisal by Christa Lynn

A Dark Erotic Thriller 

Mature Adult 18+ Only 

This novel is a work of fiction and contains strong sexual situations and violence that may be disturbing to some readers. 

Read at your own risk. 

Sydney DeCarlo has a dark past, one she prefers to keep in the past. She’s a survivor and has made her living counselling kids who have also survived the same nightmare. When the FBI and NYPD call her in to assist on a case, her past comes roaring back. 

Enter Detective Gabriel Torres. 

Gabe is talk, dark and handsome and immediately feels a connection with Sydney. Sydney's been called in to assist in the investigation of raped and murdered young women and he’s not sure she’s the right person for the job. 

But Sydney’s connection to this case is more than anyone could ever imagine. Can Gabe save her from her past? Or will her nightmare be the death of her?

Amazon Barnes and Noble

I am married and have a teenage son. I live in the Atlanta, GA area and I enjoy reading and writing. I went to bed one night after reading a book that wasn't very good and thought to myself, " I can do better than that." So the next morning I got up and started pounding away at the keyboard. My first book hides in the bowels of my laptop collecting dust. My first published novel, Running from Destiny, released in October of 2013. The sequel, Accepting Destiny just released in January 2014. My newest release is Reprisal - A Dark, Erotic Thriller.  All books are Mature adult and recommended for ages 18 and up only.

Other Books by Christa Lynn

Running from Destiny

Accepting Destiny

Cats

As you may or may not be aware of yet, I have 9 cats. I've only actually met one other person who has more cats than I, and she has 17. I couldn't even fathom that many cats. I actually think that 9 is bordering on insanity.
Lately, my lovely children have started this incessant fighting thing. It feels like every time I turn around, I'm cleaning someone up from a fight, or breaking one up. It's driving me mad.
Then they turn around and snuggle with me, making me feel like a pile of dung for getting mad earlier at them. Yesterday, Princess tried to kill Orion. She was then hunted by mommy, squirted, and tossed into the bathroom for time-out. She mostly avoided me for the remainder of the evening. Today, she's lying on my arms as I attempt to write, purring and enjoying the occasional petting and ear scratching. I have a picture of her looking oh-so-sweet and innocent below.

Graduation

Today I celebrated my sibling's graduations. As the oldest of five, I am the only one who doesn't have their Bachelor's Degree - or any college degree for that matter. I feel oddly about this.
Growing up, I was the nerd in the family. I graduated high school with honors, took some of the most advanced classes in Science, English, and Math, and even received an academic scholarship. I started college, but half-way through the first semester, I moved across the country. This move cost me my scholarship, strained my relationship with my family, and allowed me to eventually meet my husband.
I've thought about going back to school, getting a degree in something, but I can't figure out what. What in the world would help me with my dream of being a successful writer? Also, what defines a successful writer? That would depend on whom you ask, I think. Most people would consider me highly successful. In three years, I've written nine books, been in three anthologies, and have been asked to mentor others. While I'm beyond thrilled, amazed, and quite frankly, shocked daily by this, I still don't feel like a success. I still work and struggle with the daily grind. I'm not where I pictured myself to be, nor where I want to be in life.
But would a degree change any of that? I don't think so. I guess I could take a few marketing classes, or perhaps something for photoshop, or even some creative writing classes to hone my skills. But I'm not sure I want to do any of that.
I'm very proud of my siblings. They have all worked hard to achieve their goals, and while only one is actually using her degree, they all have that achievement to be proud of. I just can't seem to escape that nagging, internal feeling of being less, of being a failure.
The really stupid thing is (not that this whole thing isn't silly), I absolutely don't feel that a degree is that big of a deal. Many people who get them, don't even use them. There are many people with degrees that aren't working in the field their education was achieved in, and if they are, they're looking for something else, or going back to school for something else. I also know of many people who are successful without a degree.
So, knowing that I don't want to go back to school, knowing that it (probably) won't help me with what I want to achieve in life, why do I feel so inadequate?

Reprisal by Christa Lynn

A Dark Erotic Thriller 

Mature Adult 18+ Only 

This novel is a work of fiction and contains strong sexual situations and violence that may be disturbing to some readers. 

Read at your own risk. 

Sydney DeCarlo has a dark past, one she prefers to keep in the past. She’s a survivor and has made her living counselling kids who have also survived the same nightmare. When the FBI and NYPD call her in to assist on a case, her past comes roaring back. 

Enter Detective Gabriel Torres. 

Gabe is talk, dark and handsome and immediately feels a connection with Sydney. Sydney's been called in to assist in the investigation of raped and murdered young women and he’s not sure she’s the right person for the job. 

But Sydney’s connection to this case is more than anyone could ever imagine. Can Gabe save her from her past? Or will her nightmare be the death of her? 

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Writing

Life seems to be giving me curveball after curveball lately. Writing has been nonexistent, along with reading, reviews, or really anything outside of work, looking for a job, and more work. I'm frustrated with it, but trying to go with the flow.
This morning, I started yet another new story that will be placed on the back burner with the rest of them. I'm intrigued by it and hope you will be too. One of these days, I'll get to finishing Origins and start on the other books I have in limbo. Until then, thanks for hanging in with me, and know I appreciate each and every one of you.
Blessings!

Strange Dreams

I typically have strange dreams, but some days are stranger than others. For example, my husband went on a REALLY BAD B-movie (or less) zombie movie marathon a few years ago, and I had a few strange dreams about zombies. I wrote them down and created Zombie War. This was all before I'd even heard of The Walking Dead.
I have also had prophetic dreams since I was a kid - all about death. You can imagine that predicting and watching someone die repeatedly in your dreams, and then having it happen exactly how you dreamt, is rather disturbing. I started sleeping with a Dreamcatcher. It works miracles. However, for some reason, I have more trouble remembering my dreams in the morning than I used to. I'm usually okay with that, but sometimes, I really miss the insanity that my brain comes up with.
Last night's dream really stuck with me.
I was doing yard work, clearing out a rather overgrown parcel of land that was just covered in plants and crap. I had to pull out an arch that had ivy covering it because it was being replaced. This arch was completely covered in thick spider webs. It was a challenge to pull it out of the ground, and move it to the garbage heap without any help and without disturbing the creatures that belonged to the webs. I hate spiders. Granted, some I'll tolerate, but black widows scare the crap out of me.
The yard was really starting to look nice, and I needed Jennifer Aniston's opinion on something. I was climbing into the window to get into the house and talk to her when the sun started to set. The arch was near me, and the rest of the gardening crew had left for the day. There was only Jennifer, who was in her room doing whatever it is that celebrities do in their room (it wasn't important to the dream, so she was just this famous figure I needed to communicate with but never could reach), a brown-haired guy I can't remember, and me.
Black widows came from every crevasse of the arch to perch on their respective nests. They ranged from the size of a dime to the size of a very healthy apple. I could feel my pulse race through my veins as I tried frantically to reach the window before one of the spiders could reach me, or realized I was a mere two feet away. I tapped quietly on the window to no avail.
One of the largest spiders heard though. She tilted her body towards me, waiting.
I froze, unsure of what to do, but knowing I didn't want to stay there the whole night. I glimpsed the brown-haired man inside the house. Taking a huge risk, I pounded on the window. He saw me, but so did the widow. She came at me quickly and I knew she would reach me before the man would. I screamed, pounding on the window and trying to open it, praying that someone would help me before she killed me.
It was then that I woke up.

Hysterectomy at 29 by Candy O'Donnell

Women, you are not alone! 

Decisions, decisions, we are surrounded by them. Life is full of complications, and at times what we are contemplating can be life altering. I changed not only my life, but my entire outlook on family, work, and how I view myself. Somehow I found the strength within to decide what avenue was best for me. 

Check out this new short non-fiction by Candy O'Donnell.

Candy O'Donnell was born in Carmichael, California where she immediately encountered her grandparent's dogs. Her parents did not have much to speak of, and her grandparents were always there to pick up the slack. Pets quickly became a huge part of her life and still today many animals reside in her home and stories.At the age of twelve, she wrote her first mini book. Filled mostly with what took place with her mother and her long tedious bout with leukemia. It was a short story told as extra credit when she suffered a sprained ankle and had to be out of school for over two months. School officials refused to believe a word of what she had written until her grandmother, her guardian back then, entered the school with the truth. Everything she had written down was exactly what took place. Unfortunately her mother succumbed to the disease.

She earned a Bachelor's degree in History and Culture. After living with her aunt and uncle for over five years she wished to explore her uncle's Native heritage and did so with vigor. She also has 6 Grad units in Criminal Justice. Someday she might go back and finish her Master's.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCandyODonnell

http://authorcandyodonnell.blogspot.com/

Candy O'Donnell resides in Northern California with her husband & two children.

Books for Free

Sarah Butland

Many avid readers have piles and piles of books piled on shelves and by their beds and still can't walk out of a bookstore without spending a small fortune on more.

The good news is, ebooks and ereaders have made it easy to store books and save money, the challenging part is staying a head.

When authors make their ebooks available for free, even if you don't plan to read them for a long, long time, it's a huge benefit to download it immediately. The effects may surprise you. Not only do you get a new free book to add to your collection without needing another shelf, you're improving that authors chance to succeed.

I recently launched my award winning fantasy short story, Blood Day, for free and have received some amazing support. Strangers are eager to download, read and immediately review it and that to me is worth more than a full time job.

The book has risen to high on the best-sellers rank meaning it's visible for many more people. A book that normally would just get uploaded and buried amongst greats is giving an emerging author publicity needed to feel successful.

So don't think you're being bombarded with an advertisement for another free book, know the author is trying to be sure you don't miss out. Also please consider downloading it even if it's not going to be read in years as you never know when you'll need something new but the author already knows he/she needs your download today.

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland

www.SarahButland.com

PS: Still more time to download this for free but do it before it's too late. http://bookShow.me/B00J5NTC5W

My Writing Process - K.R. Jordan

Thanks for letting me take over your blog for the day Jean!

1. What are you working on?

Los Doce Verdaderos and Sister Yolanda

2. How does your work differ from others of its genre?

They're loosely based on 20th century urban mythology.

3. Why do you write what you do?

Catharsis

4. How does your writing process work?

In between a busy schedule, muse deigns to honor me with inspiration.

Make sure you take some time to check out K.R. Jordan's work - it's absolutely wonderful!

My Writing Process

• Thanks Jacqueline Driggers for inviting me on the My Writing Process Blog Tour!

  1. What are you working on?

  Currently updating a glossary/timeline/character list for the Origins series, working on Convergence (book 5 in that same series) and working on Memoir of a Crazy Cat Lady.

  2. How does your work differ from others of its genre?

  I write in various genres. Zombie War is different because the zombies get smarter as they ingest brains. Origins tells the story of how supernatural beings came to be, along with what happens when they're introduced to society. Memoir is my first emotional, empowering life story.

  3. Why do you write what you do?

  I write to appease the little voices in my head. lol! Just kidding, kind of. Zombies was a strange dream, Origins is a story I've been wanting to read for years, but have never found something like it. Vampire stories either are a subculture of humanity and are still secret, or happen years after the "coming out" of the creatures. I'd always wondered, what happened during the reveal? How did it all begin? That's the story I wanted to read, so I wrote it.

  4. How does your writing process work?

  To be perfectly honest, I have to feel passion and the urge to write. I read about other writers who force themselves to write every day. I can't do that. My muse takes her sweet time getting motivated and inspired, but once she's ready - look out. I can typically put out a novella in a month and a full novel in three when the muse is in the zone. If I have to force it, force her to write and force the inspiration, it takes me forever and I usually hate everything I've written. I'll never publish something I'm not proud of, so I wait. And wait. And then go on month long stints of 1-3 hours of sleep a night so I can type. Then coma and the waiting game begins anew.

  Hope this helps!

  Thanks again Jacqueline for inviting me onto this tour! Stay tuned next week when K.R. Jordan takes over the blog and gives insights into her writing process! K.R. Jordan writes fantasy novellas and describes herself as a Gulf Coast born and bred woman, happiest when she is in the great outdoors.

  • 1) Los Doce Verdaderos and Sister Yolanda 2) They're loosely based on 20th urban mythology 3) Catharsis 4) In between a busy schedule, muse deigns to honor me with inspiration.

Life with cats

Some days I wonder at the sanity of having 9 cats. Other days, I wonder how I'll survive when they're gone.

Read an eBook Week!

Choice, Changed, Created are all $0.99 this week ONLY!!!
The Lascivious Transformation & Zombie War: The Beginning are FREE until March 8, 2014!!

Strange nightmare

I can't remember the last time I had a nightmare, let alone one that had me jolting awake with sweat pouring down my back.

I smacked him in the chest. "Look at me!" I demanded, voice pleading laced with anger.
Vin turned his angry, empty gaze at me and I almost regretted my demands.
"You have to let me in. You're traveling down a path that no one can follow." I yelled, voice cracking with emotions I hid from him. "I know he was your brother, but there are still people here, alive, that love you. Don't do this."
He stared at me, his mouth turned into his now typical frown. For just a second I thought I glimpsed a sparkle of the old Vin, the mischievous man I loved. He placed his palm on my cheek.
"I have to do this. I can't explain it. I'll be home later." He leaned down, kissing my forehead.
I grabbed his tight, white tee. "No you don't. You don't have anything to prove to anyone. We all miss him; if you do this, you'll just join him in death. Please!" I couldn't stop them. Twin tears slipped down my cheeks as he got into the car. "Vincent, no!"
My screams fell on deaf ears as he revved the engine, intent on completing this race. I knew it wouldn't end well, I'd had a bad feeling all day about it. I couldn't watch. Turning, I bolted out of there, running as fast as I could away from what I knew was going to happen. I could feel his eyes on me as I left. I always watched his races. Maybe this would change his mind, but I doubted it.

I'm not certain how it happened, but I ended up in my old stomping grounds. Most of the houses here were deserted, including my childhood home. I walked in, following my old path to my bedroom and out the window to the small grove of trees I knew were still there, without seeing or thinking of anything. A noise stopped my movements in the window.
A small girl was laying, curled up on a tattered old bed. I walked over to her. She had long, stringy hair, with straight bangs. Beneath the bangs was a thick strand of what looked like dried blood, but it was such a bright red I couldn't believe it was actually blood.
"What happened to you?" I asked gently.
"I spilled paint," she replied softly, her voice cracking. "Do you have anything to eat? I'm so hungry."
"No, I don't, but let's see if there's anything left in the cupboards, okay?"
I took her hand and led her into the kitchen. As we entered the tiny space, I registered the sight of a man and woman. My gaze went to the man first, as it always does. He was large, stomach overfilled, his white shirt straining to contain him. I saw the face and screamed the most blood curdling, horror-filled scream I'd ever uttered or heard before bolting, shoving the little girl out of my way.

I jolted awake, my heart pounding, sweat pouring in rivers down my back. I could barely catch my breath I was so afraid. Why, I couldn't say. There was something about that man that had me absolutely beyond terrified.

Recycled Retaining Wall

So, we've lived in our house for almost 5 years now and have yet to do much of anything to the backyard. It's been a frustrating battle with Bry to get things done. I have a vision that I try to explain/show him, but he just sees cost, time, and cost involved with all of it and so we haven't done anything.
Rewind a few months to when one of my friends posted a video about a recycled water bottle schoolhouse.

After watching this video, I was motivated to try it on my backyard retaining wall, subtracting approximately $1.50 per brick in expenses to the retaining wall I've been trying to do for the past 5 years. I have a feeling it's going to take me another 5 years just to get all the bottles for the wall.

Start by drinking a crapload of 20-oz water.

Place the empties in a container that
won't blow away.

Fill with dirt from yard and place in an area that's out of the
way.

This is the wall I started when we moved in. The dirt that filled
the bottles in the previous picture is what's cleared below this
small portion of wall. Not much.

This is the length of yard that needs a wall.  o.O A Daunting Task.

Crazy life

Life sure likes to throw curveballs, doesn't it?
I've been very anxious and excited the past few weeks in preparation of seeing my Gram for the first time in 14 years. Minus the normal frustrations I expected for the weekend, we ended up having a wonderful time getting to know the new versions of each other.
Now that my life is back to it's normal chaos, I should be able to get on here more often. The goal is to pop by at least 3 times a week.
While my family was visiting, the cats had to change their routine. They enjoy change about as well as someone likes walking on legos. Now that things are back to normal, I get to deal with the 3 a.m. catterwalling as they remind me of how difficult their lives were over the weekend. Cats. Sigh.
In writing news, I only have 2.5 books to finish going through for the glossary/timeline to help me with Convergence. I've also read over the 50 pages I have written, and they're not as horrible as I'd originally thought them to be. I think I'm going to write it a bit differently than I'd originally thought, and am finally starting to get excited about this book. If things keep going this well, hopefully I'll have 2 books out this year. That'd be amazing. I'm also looking into how to make all the books audiobooks, so for those of you who would rather listen to them, keep checking on me. We'll get there. :)