M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 2

Goals the Week Hometown Heroes Releases

 

 

I’ve put Something to Talk About in a book bundle with other contemporary romance authors and it’s coming out Tuesday. Lots to do–we have ads and newsletters and all kinds of things…

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/HHAmznGrp

B&N: http://smarturl.it/HHBnN

iBooks: http://smarturl.it/HHiBks

Kobo: http://smarturl.it/HHKb

A three-day weekend, thank goodness, though it’s halfway over and I haven’t got half the things done.

This week:

Celebrate the release of Hometown Heroes, including a newsletter
Work on Boom Town book
Organize taxes
Take out ads
Steam clean couches

I know there’s something I’m forgetting, but the computer froze in the middle of the post and I forgot!

Goals for the Week of Testing

 

Yes, testing already, at least three days. I heard through the grapevine that I won’t be having my little kids all week, only 3rd-5th. This has yet to be confirmed.

 

I did get observed last week, so that’s done. I had a very successful BookBub ad, too, so yay.

work on Boom Town Book
Take out ads
guest speaker
Pay taxes
Cook dinner at home. I’ve planned my menu, but Fred’s been having band practice twice a week and isn’t home for dinner, so it’s been hit or miss so far.

Goals for 2015, and the Week of my Anniversary

So last year, I wrote 5 books and a novella and about made myself crazy, so I didn’t write for about a month at the end of the year. I’m going to slow down this year. I’m never going to have a goal of more than 6 pages a day, and I should still be able to get 4 books out at that pace.

So my goals—

One new release a quarter.

Have more time to craft.

Pay off three more bills.

More time with my family (hard to beat after the last two weeks, lol! 5 parties! FIVE!)

HOPEFULLY get to the point where I can hire an assistant. Of course, I need an assistant to set up stuff for my assistant!

My goals THIS week:

Celebrate 29th anniversary

Write

Cook at home (except tonight, naturally)

Take out ads

Wish me luck!

Highlights of 2015

 

2015 was a pretty good year for me. I felt like my temperament really evened out. I did stress myself out a bit, with the writing, releasing 5 novels and a novella, but I’m not going to do that again. I’m going to keep my writing goals simpler this year.

I had some sad bits (losing my dog Stormy broke my heart. I remember being in inservice and I couldn’t stop crying.)

But a lot was good.

I made the USA Today list. Even in a boxed set with 18 other authors, it was a LOT of hard work.

I had my best month writing income ever. (Also my worst–go figure. Crazy year.)

My mom and I traveled to NYC for my brother’s boyfriend’s sister’s wedding. It was an ADVENTURE, and I only wish we could have stayed one more day.

On the way to NYC, we learned of the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage. It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time, as we traveled to the wedding of someone we wouldn’t even know if not for my brother and his partner. AND this week, my brother and his boyfriend got engaged, very romantically, and we were all able to celebrate the news together–his family and mine. This was a big deal, and really wonderful.

I lost my dog Stormy and decided I couldn’t live without a dog. I “shopped” online at the local shelters, and spent half of Spring Break visiting dogs before I decided to bring Polka home. She’s an older girl, with some health issues, but a real sweetheart.

I was trying to talk Fred into another dog but rescued two kittens from school instead. They are…amusing, but boy, is my house full!

The whole familia was here for my birthday and Fiesta. We Fiesta-ed until we dropped!

Fred turned 50, and we celebrated with a LOT of road trips. My favorite is probably Garner State Park, the prettiest spot in Texas. I’m only sad I’m just now discovering it.

We also had the best BBQ in the world at Cooper’s in Llano, and spent a long weekend at the beach!

I also took up cross-stitching again, and started collecting Fiesta in such earnest that I gave a LOT for Christmas presents. I told Josh it’s his inheritance!

What were some of your 2015 highlights?

 

My Favorite Movies of 2015

So this was the year we stopped getting Netflix discs. They would sit and sit and sit and we wouldn’t watch, so we just stopped. We don’t stream much either, so we mostly have the account for the kid. So I didn’t even watch 10 movies this year! And most of what we saw, we saw in the theater.

Of course I loved Star Wars.

And Jurassic World, though I know it was silly and had plot holes. So did the first, which is one of my all-time favorite movies.

And Avengers: Age of Ultron.

I was pleasantly surprised by The Martian.

And Mad Max: Fury Road.

Other movies I saw and liked were Mr. Holmes, Ant-Man, Pitch Perfect 2 and The Longest Ride. But really, I didn’t see all that many.

Yes, I even missed Mockingjay Part 2–will wait for the DVD.

What did you see that you enjoyed this year?

My Favorite TV Shows of 2015

We watch a LOT of TV. A. Lot. I was a little taken aback when Entertainment Weekly had their “best-of” TV shows and I hadn’t heard of most of them!

So I went through my season passes on the TiVo to see which were the shows we watch right away, and the ones we look forward to the most. It kind of surprised me to see that most of them are sit-coms.

Fresh Off the Boat–LOVE the mom. LOVE the kids. LOVE the nostalgia.

The Walking Dead–This season was really intense, even when the Glenn thing wore thin. I’m looking forward to more.

Outlander–my favorite book come to life. What else is there to say?

Poldark–A romance novel on screen. Cannot wait for the next season.

When Calls the Heart–Very sweet, just makes me happy to watch.

blackish–Love the kids, love the best friend. Belly laughs every time.

Life in Pieces–Love the structure, love the family, love James Brolin.

Superstore–A new show, but we both are amused by it. This may change. But it beat out some old favorites!

Grandfathered–Love John Stamos as a selfish, well-to-do single man who finds out that not only does he have a grown son, he has a granddaughter. Very sweet show.

Geeks Who Drink–We try to see if we can beat the geeks!

GEEKS WHO DRINK — Season:1 — Pictured: Zachary Levy — (Photo by: Jaimie Trueblood/Syfy)

I don’t know why sitcoms have overrun my list, but I’m more ready to try those than a new drama.

SHIELD was better this season, The Strain wasn’t as good (we hate Zach.) Scandal got bumped when MOM came back on, and I don’t miss it. We like Gotham more, and felt like Haven would NEVER END.

What have you watched that you love this year?

My Favorite Books of 2015

Every year I post my top ten favorite books, my top ten favorite movies and my top ten favorite TV shows.

Books are the easiest, because I keep track of them on Goodreads. Narrowing them down is the challenge. You’ll see I read of LOT of Shannon Stacey. I love her books, and I read them almost as soon as they land on my Nook. I am a few books behind because of her RS books, but I will catch up!

Heat Exchange by Shannon Stacey

Astronaut Wives Club

The Liar by Nora Roberts

Under the Lights by Shannon Stacey

Call of the Wilder by Kris Fletcher

Libbie by Judy Atler

Last Dance at the Jitterbug Lounge by Pamela Morsi

Worth the Risk by Claudia Conner

Dating a Single Dad by Kris Fletcher

Heart of the Storm by Shannon Stacey

What did you read that you loved this year?

Goals the Week of the New Year

BOY am I tired! Three family gatherings in 3 days, and 2 more to come. I told Fred I am NOT going in the kitchen today, though! I think I made 6 batches of cookies, and cinnamon rolls.

Lunch with a friend, and coffee with another!
Family celebrations
WRITE
Take out ads
Update website
WRITE
Take down tree
naps–lots and lots of naps
sew something

Goals the Week of Christmas!!!

 

I forgot to post yesterday! At least I’m up early on my first day of vacation…

Boom Town book
get ready for company
Day with Mom
Much baking
Party, party, party!
Some sewing
clean bedrooms
walk the dog
update website
update back matter in books
take out ads
upload books

 

Goals the Week of STAR WARS

 

My family is very excited about the new Star Wars movie. My son has been counting down for months!

Last week was crazy, but the show went well. Thursday and Friday were much better because I didn’t have as many kids to practice with (the ones who performed on Wednesday aren’t practicing anymore.) Plus they already know the dance. We only have two more days of practice, but it is a crazy week, with our teacher breakfast and Star Wars and the last program…

Baking
Christmas program
faculty meeting
take out ads
Star Wars!!!!