M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 52

Creature of Habit

I've heard that Albert Einstein wore the same outfit every day. I'm not THAT bad–the creative side of me loves putting together outfits–but I am kind of scared of my own habits.

I eat the same breakfast every day. It is not healthy and I keep thinking I'll change, but I don't. I have my routine and I like it.

I pack almost the same lunch every day, unless I'm lucky enough to have leftovers. Eating the same thing every day makes shopping and packing easier.

I drive in the same lane every day. I get in that lane on 410, on 281, on 35 and I stay until I get to my destination.

I go to the same restaurant every Sunday morning. I eat the same thing every Saturday for lunch.

Heck, even my blog posts are almost always the same format!

All these things make change very hard for me. I know I should shake things up now and then, especially since I'm not that old, but it jangles my nerves.

How much of a routine person are you?

Happy Birthday to my Baby Brother

And when I say "Baby" I mean it literally. Mike is 23 years old today. My SON is 20.

I was already married when Mom called me and said, "I know why I've been so sick lately." Yep, she was going to have a baby.

I was just starting my student teaching semester when my grandmother called me. "Your mom's going to the hospital." I had a big project due that day, so I had to race to college, turn in the paperwork, and NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE ME when I said my mom was having a baby. Then I had to race across town to get my grandmother, who insisted I drive her ginormous Chevy truck downtown to the hospital. Once we got there, we couldn't find Mom or Joe. When I finally did find Mom, she was in recovery from her c-section, and said, "Did you see him?" We finally saw Mike, laying by the window in the nursery, naked as a jaybird!

Mike and I bonded pretty good, especially the summer I was pregnant, and the summer my grandmother died. The summer I was pregnant, I spent every day at Mom's. Fred would drop me off in the morning and pick me up in the evening, because I was scared to stay home alone. The hardest thing for me when my son was born was NOT seeing Mike every day.

When my grandmother fell, Mike was home alone with her. In a lot of ways, he blamed himself. When she was in rehab and the nurse was trying to tell us what to do to help her, and the nurse kind of snapped at Mike. He about melted down. So I took him away, and later that summer, my other brother took him to the coast, just to get his mind off of it. It was a pretty terrible summer, but we became closer because of it, and that would make my grandmother happy.

 

This past year has been a real growing up experience for Mike. He has his first real job (teaching, naturally) and his first apartment. I took him shopping for cookware–he loves to cook. Go figure. He called me the other night to tell me he was thinking about me because he was using the cookware! And when he first started teaching this year, he'd call me every morning. So funny.

So happy 23rd, Mike! May there be many, many more!

And the Winner of Cynthia Woolf's Book Is….

Diana Layne! Comment here or email me at mfechter @ gmail. com for a copy of Cynthia's book!

Join us next week for a visit with Barbara Phinney!

My Wii Addiction

I bought myself a Wii when Best Buy had them on sale Thanksgiving. I'd fallen in love with them at PE. Coach bought one and the kids do Just Dance on Fridays. He projects it on the screen, all the kids do the moves, and the best ones are selected to man the controls. The kids love it.

Anyway, I didn't use it much before Christmas. I bought Just Dance, the one with bowling, and winter sports. I need to sell the winter sports one because it is way harder than I thought. My friend Susan had a Christmas party and had Glee 3. It was so much fun. Then I got Glee for Wii (love saying that) for Christmas and suddenly the boy and I were battling for video game time. Then a friend gave me an Amazon gift card and I bought Glee 2 (NOT as good. The songs are shorter and there aren't many. I think you have to unlock them, though.) And Susan and I traded games.

But now I have a schedule. I come home, get settled, do Just Dance for 30 minutes (I LOVE "Groove is in the Heart" and "Wannabe." I have a hard time with "Heart of Glass." "I Like to Move It" and "Cotton Eyed Joe" are the best workouts, though. Then I sing until it's time to make dinner. I may sing some more while it's cooking I just bought Just Dance 2….

Do you have a Wii? Do you like video games? I never played them before, but I'm loving this!

Welcome to Self-Published Author Cynthia Woolf

Today's guest is Indie author Cynthia Woolf, who writes western AND Sci-Fi! Her latest release is Centauri Midnight.

As usual, leave a comment, or tweet using the #52weeksofindie hashtag for a chance to win one of her books!

Welcome, Cynthia!

1)      What was the inspiration for this book?  Centauri Midnight grew out of the first two books.  Kiti and Garrick kept after me until I told their story.  They simply wouldn't leave me alone.

2)      What's next for you?  I'm writing a sequel to my western, Tame A Wild Heart and am working on the next sci-fi series as well.

3)      When you're procrastinating, what do you do?  I read email and check my sales number continuously.   I'm just sure that if I check them enough I can make them move.  Sure that it's mind over matter.  LOL

4)      How many books in your TBR pile? Dozens

5)      What's your biggest guilty pleasure?  Sitting down and eating homemade chocolate chip cookies and milk until I'm full of them.  It's like six big cookies and enough to make me sick but I love them so much.  J

6)      Name 3 of your favorite things.  Reading, gardening, Starbucks caramel macchiato

7)      Where can readers find you?  My web address is www.cynthiawoolf.com

Excerpt from Centauri Midnight:

"Audra, please.  You're my queen but you're also my friend.  You must grant me this last request.  Let me go after him."  Tensign Kiti Dolana paced the beautiful sitting room.  Bile rose in her throat threatened to strangle her.  Finally, she collapsed into a chair it's soft cushions swallowing her as she sat across the small, highly polished and gleaming, coffee table from the Queen of Centauri, her friend.

The Queen, pregnant with triplets, her beautifully distended tummy disallowing much frivolous movement, reclined on the couch.  She sat up to pour the tea but had trouble reaching the tea pot in the middle of the coffee table.  "Kiti would you pour our tea, I'm a bit like a beached whale right now."  Audra was anything but a beached whale.  Kiti knew the colloquial term from her study of Earth.

Her queen was radiant.  Her long, chestnut hair falling in waves to her waist was gathered on one side of her head.  Her clear gray eyes shone bright  in her pale face.  She wore a beautiful royal purple empire waisted dress that highlighted her pale features.  She was beautiful.  Kiti remembered a time, on their way back to Centauri from Earth, when she'd not thought so, because she was jealous.

That was before Audra's marriage to Darius and when she'd still be betrothed to Anton.  Kiti had been in love with Anton, at least she thought she was, and was jealous of Audra.  Some of the things she said were unkind, but Audra had seen them for what they were, jealousy and forgiven her the words.  They were now the best of friends.

Kiti poured the tea and continued to beseech her queen.  "Audra, you have to let me go after him.  He killed my brother Joridan, his actions led to Anton being captured and tortured.  I need to see they get justice, they deserve it."

"And you are sure it is only justice you seek?" Audra softly asked.

"Damn it, Audra."  Kiti was up and pacing the room again.  Her long black hair was tied in a high pony tail and swung back and forth with each step she took.  The thick, plush carpet kept her boots from clicking on the floor.  "I'm begging you to let me go with Garrick Marcus.  It's not just revenge I need.  I need closure.  I'm the one who should deliver Tybold to the authorities.  Garrick Marcus is the best captain in the fleet and I know Darius is sending him after Tybold.  Joridan needs us both to avenge his death.  To bring his murderer back to Centauri for justice to be served."

"Kiti, are you combat trained?  We don't know what to expect from the Proconians.  By this time, Tybold could have convinced them we are conquerors and he's their only salvation.  We don't know.  It could be a suicide mission.  I don't want to lose my best friend."  She went on.  "I know you're grieving.  Joridan's loss and Lara's return has been very hard on you."

"Stop."  Kiti jumped up and started to pace again.  "I know what my life has been like.  I mourn the loss of Joridan life and Anton's capture and torture by Slavarien.  Joridan was my little brother.  Even though he was a head taller than me he will always be my little brother.  I still smell Joridan's scent in his room.  Sometimes it's so fresh it's like he just passed by."  Her eyes filled with tears, "I miss the closeness that Anton and I once shared but I do not bemoan him finding Lara.  I'm very happy he found his lifemate.  It was something he never thought to be able to do.  After the torture that both Anton and Lara suffered at the hands of the Slavariens, it's amazing that they found each other.  I wish I had a lifemate out there somewhere.

"Audra, I'm a historian and anthropologist, but first I'm Dragonera.  Of course, I am combat trained.  All Dragonera are.  We are the Royal Guard.  We are the best."

"Yes.  You're right, but I worry anyway.  Must be my maternal instinct."  Audra patted her belly.

"You know that the people of Procon are centuries behind us technologically.  I'm the only person who can go on this mission that knows anything about their culture."

"I don't know," Audra hesitated.

"Admit it.  Garrick needs me."

"We don't interfere in the development of other planets' civilizations.  You know that."

"Tybold has already interfered.  I say we'll be evening the odds for the tribes involved.  And it's not as though Procon doesn't know we exist.  They already trade with other planets.  Just because they're not our technological equals doesn't mean they aren't advanced."

Kiti saw Audra hesitate before she answered.  "I must confer with Darius before I can give you my answer."

At that moment Darius came in accompanied by Garrick, Anton and Lara.  The three men were in their Dragonera uniforms as was Kiti.  The only differences being the color blocking.  Darius and Garrick wore amethyst uniforms with cream colored sleeves, denoting their status as starship Captains.  Darius' uniform also had a cream colored stripe from the left shoulder to the waist, denoting that he was Captain of the Royal Guard.  As a general in the Royal Army, Anton's uniform was solid amethyst.  Lara, Audra's twin sister, still had the tanned skin from someone who's spent too much time in the sun.  She wore the House of Danexx royal colors like everyone else did.  Hers were an amethyst jumpsuit and long cream colored duster.  Kiti's uniform was solid cream.  Her rank as Tensign was denoted by a patch on her left arm.

"What do you need to discuss with me?" Darius asked as he took his wife's arm and helped her to rise from the couch.  She gave him a quick kiss.  Darius rubbed her stomach then bent and said, "Hello, my children.  Are you being nice to your mommy today?"

Kiti swore he expected an answer.

"If you don't quit that people are going to think you're crazy," said Audra.

Darius laughed and kissed her belly.

"I am. Crazy in love with my wife."

Lara made gagging sounds.  'Will you two remember that you have an audience?"

"All right.  But you and Anton are just as bad as we are." Darius said to his soon to be twice over sister-in-law."

"Never," retorted Lara.  "No one is as over the moons as you two.

"I don't know, I'm pretty much over the moons about you," said Anton waggling his eyebrows at her.

The banter was not aimed at Kiti.  She didn't think the two couples even remembered they were not alone.  Kiti glanced at Garrick, who rolled his eyes at her.   "Audra, the mission."  She reminded her queen tapping her wrist to hurry her.

"Oh yes.  Darius, Kiti has requested to be assigned to go with Garrick to Procon, to apprehend Lord Tybold.  I told her I would discuss it with you."

"I don't know if she will be needed,"  Darius responded.

Garrick spoke for the first time since entering the room.  "I think an anthropologist would be very useful on this particular mission.  Tensign Dolana would be a definite asset to me in bringing in Tybold."

"Thank you, Garrick. "  Kiti was warmed by his words and agreed with him one hundred percent.  To her way of thinking, this mission would only succeed with her help.  No one could understand the Proconians better than she could.

"Very well," said Darius.  "You will receive your orders tomorrow.  In the mean time, can we eat dinner?  I'm a starving man."

I Can't Believe I'm Blogging About the Weather

The weather in Texas has been unseasonably warm. Like, a lot. I'm looking at the forecast and only two days in the next 15 will the high be below sixty. Five of those days, the lows will be in the 50s. Only one will have lows in the 30s.

We've had four freezes this year, and November and December were cooler than normal, but now it's downright springlike. I have worn my boots ONCE in January, have not worn a sweater at all (and I have two new ones!) and the hose I bought are still in their packages. I'm going to paint my nails today and wear sandals and spring clothes this week.

If it sounds like I'm bragging, I'm not. We usually only get about 8 weeks of winter anyway–we don't get very cool until November, and the trees start budding in February. So not much time to enjoy cooler weather before it gets hot as damn.

Now, last year we had an ice storm in February, so winter isn't written off yet. But it's been a disappointing one so far

Goals for the Week of the Crazy

My big goal right now is to get through January without taking a day off. It's so tempting, but I know I'll be happier if I wait until February, when we don't have any holidays.

This week is crazier than normal.

1)      Baby Brother's birthday

2)      Surprise party for a friend

3)      Choir practice at another school one afternoon

4)      Distributing Food Bank donations one afternoon

5)      Judge a RITA book

6)      Get to the halfway point of the novella

7)      Take action on Bluestone

8)      Exercise

9)      Keep up house/cook (though I won't be doing much of that, with two late days and two parties!)

Where to Go Next?

So of course as soon as I finish with my trilogy and am all excited about starting something new, the first book of the trilogy is rejected. So I'm trying to decide what to do next.

Submit to a new publisher? I already have four to keep track of, and if I do that, will  I have a book out this year?

Self-publish? You need a good cover, and that's pricey. What's more, I'll need 3, not to mention the formatting, which I just can't make myself learn. AND I can't find good stock art. I know what I want as the overall look, but finding the right couple is just….hard. The heroine of my first book is blonde, and all of the male models with the blonde stock photo girls are kinda goofy looking. And they don't really stand out. Plus I want an emblem on each cover that says, "Welcome to Bluestone," like a population sign or something.

So…while I'm trying to get into this new story, I'm distracted by these decisions. What to do, what to do….

Also, I want a new computer, like a lot. I know this one isn't 2 years old yet, but I use it for HOURS and HOURS a day and it's blessed slow. Thinking, thinking….

And the Winner of Lisa Mondello's Book Is….

Mary Curry! Mary, you know how to find me! Let me know which book you want, and which format.

Welcome Indie and Traditionally Published Author Lisa Mondello

Lisa and I go WAYYYY back. We met on the AOL romance writing boards (anyone remember those?) at LEAST a dozen years ago, when I got my first computer. We've kept in touch on and off but really reconnected lately now that we're on Twitter, and now that we're both self-publishing.

She's also published with Love Inspired and Avalon, and doing very well with her self-published books. You can comment for a chance to try her for yourself!

1) What was the inspiration for this book?

The Knight and Maggie's Baby didn't really have an inspiration per se. I wrote the book 12 years ago just after Elton John was knighted by the Queen of England. So that started the idea of having a hero who was a modern day knight. Then taking the modern fairy tale one step further I paired him up with a very modest, working class coffee shop owner who was pregnant. No modern day Cinderella story would be complete without a dress and a ball, so I make sure there is one in the story as well. I love the romance in this story and love the characters who've shaped their lives.

2) What's next for you?

I'm always working on multiple projects so it's hard to pin me down to just one thing. I am releasing the BOX SET for the Fate with a Helping Hand series which includes 3 books, All I Want for Christmas is You, The Marriage Contract and The Knight and Maggie's Baby. It should be showing up on Amazon any time now. It'll be discounted so people who've already purchased one book will still get a deal by buying the BOX SET. In a few weeks I will also be releasing my TEXAS HEARTS e-book series which includes Her Heart for the Asking, His Heart for the Trusting and The More I See.

3) When you're procrastinating, what do you do?

That's easy. I waste…ur…spend a great deal of time listening to music. All kinds. I have been known to feign writers block and spend an entire day just listen to music. It used to be more fun with albums (I can't believe I'm dating myself) because some album art is so cool (Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy! Amazing!) and I could sit with album covers scattered out around me, reading liner notes and lyrics, which I love doing. Sounds exciting doesn't it? LOL To me it's relaxing and fun.

4) How many books in your TBR pile?

Do I really have to count? All I can say is that I don't have enough room for all the books I have. They're in boxes, cabinets, bookshelves, bags and stacked in corners. Now that I have both a Kobo and Nook Color, I very rarely read a paperback book, so I fear I may be giving all these wonderful books away. (gasp) Or I'll be neurotic and keep them all…just in case.

5) What's your biggest guilty pleasure?

I love watching movies. If I'm going to relax, it's going to be watching a good movie. I have a soft spot for WWII period films and romantic comedy. But I also love getting into a real gritty suspense. I love Netflix because there's always a great movie on!It was a natural progression for me to move from just writing novels, which I love, to also writing screenplays. I'm having a lot of fun with it and would love to see a story of mine come to life on the big screen!

6) Name 3 of your favorite things.

My family. Dunkin Donuts coffee. (I wouldn't mind it if they opened a Dunkin Donuts in my front yard.) Fuzzy slipper socks. (My feet are always cold.) 1968 Convertible Camaro. Okay, that was more than 3, but I couldn't leave the Camaro out.

7) Where can readers find you?

I'm on Twitter at @LisaMondello, on the web at http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com, and email at LisaMondello@aol.com. I love hearing from readers!