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. :)

You don't have kids?!?!

I hate this question/accusation.
For the past 14 years, I've worked in Health Care. April 2013, I quit to pursue writing - both grants and novels. A few months ago I got freaked and decided to sign up for an agency, where I could go into different hospitals and work, keeping my skills up and making sure I'd always have a job. Last night was my first night back into the foray.
Everyone always wants to know about the new person, doesn't matter if you'll ever see one another again, you always have to ask the routine questions. Are you married, do you have kids, why do you work agency, etc. I was taking a break last night when this guy came in and asked if I had kids.
"Nope. I have cats," I replied.
"Are you going to have kids?" He inquired further.
"Nope, I'm good." I answered, curtly.
"How come?" He pressed.
"I don't want kids." I lied to us both. Someday, I'll actually believe it to my core.
"Are you married?" He asked with increased curiosity.
"Yep. Been married for over 9 years now." I responded with a smile, knowing where this conversation was headed. It always goes down this path.
"And he's okay with you not having children?!" The disgusted shock was palpable.
"Yep," my curt tone was back. Any sane person would recognize the tone and end the conversation.
"So you're not having kids?"
"Nope."
"And you're both okay with that?"
"Yep."
"He doesn't want kids?"
"Nope."
I won't bore you with the remaining repetitive questions, but this conversation went on for a good 7 minutes. Normally, just to end the lengthy series of inquiries, I just tell the truth. I wanted kids, I'd love to be a mom, but I can't. I had cervical cancer at 18 and giving birth was taken from me. I can have miscarriages, which are fun (not), but cannot carry to term. This revelation usually completely changes the tone of the conversation. Only once have I had someone ask me why my husband hasn't left me because I can't provide him kids.
That was the only time I was left absolutely speechless.
I can't tell you why I didn't say that, except to say that I'm really tired of telling people things that are really none of their business.
I know what you're thinking, "What's the point of this, Jean?"
Here it is: Why is having kids so important? Since I've accepted not being a mom, I've been content with that decision. Why is that wrong? Why can't my family just consist of me, my husband, and our cats? Why does having people children create a "family"? I don't understand it. Why am I deemed defective simply because I don't have people children? What's wrong with not wanting kids?
I don't treat you badly because you chose to have kids that run in front of my car, spill things on me when I'm shopping, or scream in my ear because they want a toy and you haven't taught them that tantrums are unacceptable. I don't send you dirty looks in restaurants, look at you sympathetically when you tell me you have a bunch of kids, or ask you if you'd like to give them up for adoption when you talk about how sometimes you'd like to be without the kids.
I understand that having, or not having children, is a personal choice. I'm always shocked and amazed at the judgement I receive from others in today's society. I naïvely think that we're an enlightened and accepting generation, and am constantly reminded that we're not.

The Kittens aka the triplets

Gunther and Bry at Halloween

Frost, Saphyra and Gunther just turned 6. They're from the same litter, and I also am the proud owner of their mother.


Gunther is my big scaredy cat, although he does the cutest thing to get pet, he stands up and arches himself into your hand. He also knows what a laser light is and where it's kept in the house. When I ask, "Where's your light?" or "Where's the laser?" he gets super excited, runs to the drawer and paws at it.

Saphyra in her tent

Saphyra is mommy's girl. She's my shadow, my little pain in the butt, spoiled rotten, youngest girl. She has her spot on the bed when it's time to go to sleep, and if I'm not laying correctly, or (God forbid!) someone else is in her spot, she yowls until the grievous error is fixed. Sometime during the night she finds herself snuggled up to her brother, Frost.

Frost being cute

Frost is a big marshmallow. He loves being brushed, preferably by my hairbrush, and absolutely loves the toilet brush. He has his own human toothbrush that he chews on when I brush my teeth, but if he could, he'd snatch the toilet brush and chew on that until his gums bled. I will never understand this. He's a pain in the butt in the morning. Once he was tall enough, he learned how to turn off the standing fan we have in our bedroom. So, for 5 years, I've woken at various times during the wee morning hours to a cat "ticking" the fan, trying to turn it off. What he's really trying to do is to get me up and turn the fan off so he can have the warm spot without air blowing on him.

I came home from work today and Frost sat in front of my computer with his paws on my shoulder, sniffing my ear. Apparently he's celebrating National Hug Day. <3

Release of Accepting Destiny by Christa Lynn

Up until 3 months ago, Ally Sanders lived a normal life and was focused on her career.  She didn’t have time for parties or love, and that was just the way she wanted it.  But Jackson Bentley had other ideas, and pursued Ally with all that he had.  But bumps in the road and dangerous situations kept them from being truly together.

Now that life has calmed down a bit, Jack and Ally start to focus on their relationship.  But outside forces want them apart, and will stop at nothing to make sure that happens.  Even murder.

Will Jackson be able to save Ally?  Or will his past destroy them both?

***This novel includes sexual situations and sensitive subject matter.***

Release party on Facebook! Join us for your chance to win prizes including Running from Destiny and Accepting Destiny.

https://www.facebook.com/events/467506803351431

Visit Christa's Author page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christa-Lynn-Author/186996248141318

About Christa:

She has been married for almost 17 years and has a teen age son. Christa lives in the Southern US and has the accent to go with it.  Running from Destiny is her first book in a series of two, Accepting Destiny is due to be released January 18, 2014.

Running from Destiny(Book 1) Available on:

Amazon

http://smarturl.it/runningfromdestiny

Barnes and Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/running-from-destiny-christa-lynn/1116480153?ean=2940045364195

Titan InKorp Bookstore

http://www.booktitans.com/erotica/Running-from-Destiny

Moon

I absolutely love the moon. I could spend hours every day outside just staring at the night sky, watching the stars and the moon. I find peace then, peace that escapes me when the sun shines brightly. For me, I come alive at night. I light up, thrive and am awakened to life's infinite possibilities when the moon hangs high in the sky. 

I took this photo a long while ago. I've found myself staring at it on occasion, time just escaping with my thoughts and frustrations. I'm not sure why I'm so drawn to it, but am grateful for the peace she brings. 

What brings you peace? What settles your soul when the chaos of the world seems too much?

Library

I went to the main downtown library today to do some work, mostly because people keep telling me that working in the library or Starbucks is wonderful. I walked in,  found a small table in the outskirts of the large room, and set up my tablet. The Internet kept cutting out, people kept walking by, and the noise!
Whatever happened to the soft whispers of the library?  When did it become a haven for the unwashed homeless?  Why do pimps actually wear purple velour suits and meet with others in the library in the middle of the day?
Needless to say, I didn't get anything done today.

Celebrity photo op

Today Bry and I ran into a character from Harry Potter.

Bry took my photo as Hoot's handler stood by. Hoot has been in many movies over the years, one series in particular, Harry Potter.
While you may not be able to tell in this photo, I'm actually terrified of birds. Hoot was very kind and professional, allowing me to pet his soft feathers when we finished taking photos with him. So while we weren't expecting this, we had a great time meeting a character from one of my favorite movies. :)

Interesting tidbit

Had a meeting today for work that was interesting, followed by another, impromptu meeting with my co-workers (my mother and brother's girlfriend, yes, I have an awesome job) that quickly turned to paranormal discussion and the history of my mother's late teen years.
After 32 years of knowing her, I was informed that my mom actually didn't graduate high school, but obtained her GED instead. I knew she was living on her own when she went to high school, but had no idea she didn't graduate. She was talking about her pregnancy with me and how at 3 months, she had an asthma attack. The doc told her that she could either take meds and see what happens to the baby, or not take meds and the baby would be retarded. I was reminded how far healthcare has come in 30 short years.
This whole revelation came about because of yesterday's post and a discussion my mom had with her boss. Apparently, I have more in common with her boss then I knew and I can't wait to call her up and have lunch. That'll be an interesting conversation... heehee
In the meantime, I'm hanging out with Bry and the cats at home, relaxing and about to watch season 3 of Spartacus.

Nothing big

Thursdays are always fun days. They are the days when my husband gets to come home from working out of town. He comes straight from working 10 hours, his beard blackened from the coal dust, blue eyes sparkling from beneath coal marred brows. He smiles at me, teeth whiter against the blackened beard, and it's impossible for me not to smile back. I have to restrain myself from leaping onto him in a big bear-hug until after he bathes. Otherwise, I'd need a shower too.
The cats all wake up from their respective slumbers, greeting him in their unique ways. Damian, who loves Bry best, shuns him, curling around my legs, sitting on me, and rubbing against me until he's certain Bry understands that he upset the cat. After that, Bry has a cat velcro-ed to him for the remainder of the weekend. Damian glares and yells at me, as if it's my fault his daddy has to leave every week.
So until Bry comes home, I work, exercise, and try to get back into my stories. Once he's here, I only have two full days with him before he leaves again. After 9 years of marriage, I've learned to let go of my stuff and take advantage of the time we have together, because it's never enough.

Past lives

I've always believed that a soul can live multiple lives, learning and growing until it has experienced everything. I've thought about going to a past life reading, then thought I was silly and have always chickened out.
The other day, I saw a FB posting that one of my acquaintances, who happens to be a past life psychic, was doing a free radio show. For shits and giggles, I called in. (This was huge - I'm WAY too shy for my own good!)
She told me that she was getting a feeling from me that she rarely received.
"I keep seeing an egg, accented by sun's rays and highlighted, almost glowing. The spirits are telling me that your origins were alien. You were hatched from an egg with others."
I was stunned into disbelief. Seriously, an alien? She continued.
"I can see you. You were a small, lizard-like creature with webbed claws, although, you are not reptilian. Your claws were used to climb a lot as a youngster, and the webbing was to grip the leaves. You lived on a planet that's 200 million light years from Earth. It's warm, approximately 150 - 200 degrees, arid and so moist a human couldn't survive. Even now, I'm finding it difficult to breathe. Spirit is telling me you survived with dural oxygen. The two suns constantly showed. There was no night."
The description of the presumed me was intriguing. Made me think of writing a story about this creature.
"Your race was protected, nurtured, loved. You were intuitive, communicating telepathically with the other healers. You lived in a harmonious environment for 5,000 years before your death. If you concentrate, you can still communicate telepathically with this race."
I had no idea what to say. "Gee, that's awesome and creepy at the same time," came to mind, but the words were never spoken.
Her partner piped up, "because of this history, in this life, you find yourself easily seeing the big picture, having answers, and knowing that a harmonious life is possible because you've already lived it. You were sent here to be a teacher, to guide others in finding balance and harmony. You know what you're talking about and you need to quit doubting yourself. Don't let others get in your head, you need to trust yourself and your instincts."
I was completely at a loss for words. I've been feeling like this for a long time. I can see a peaceful existence, practically grazing it with my fingertips, but am smothered in self-doubt. These are feelings I've not spoken to many, but it floored me at how easily they pulled my biggest hurdle into the forte.

Have any of you had a past life reading done? What was yours like? Do you believe in them, or are you a skeptic? Even after experiencing this, I'm not certain it's real. I want to believe, and I felt a ring of truth as they spoke, but really, an alien? How weird is that?