M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 73
January 2, 2011
Goals for First Week Back :::sob:::
But I don't WANNA go back to work. The good thing is, we have a day of testing, then in 2 weeks we get a 3-day weekend. But that week's my traffic duty, so….
There are things to look forward to, though January is not my favorite month. But at least it's not August!
1) Celebrate 24th anniversary! I know why we married in January (Mom's break from school, people from out of town, church still decorated for Christmas), but celebrating always feels bleak because it's right when we go back to work.
2) Work on STTA revisions
3) Work on post-apoc
4) Testing on Thursday
5) Promo thing….maybe a blog on eHarlequin.
6) Big grocery trip
7) Keep up house
8) Walk 3 days
9) Read a book.
January 1, 2011
Not My Favorite Holiday
I have to say, this is not my favorite holiday.
1) My husband has to work every NYE because his station broadcasts the fireworks display, so he leaves at 10 AM NYE and gets home around 3 AM NYD.
2) My son and husband are out with the drunks. Yeah. That's good to know.
3) My husband is worn out NYD and sleeps on the couch. Fine, except if you're trying to get anything done.
4) The Twilight Zone marathon. I cannot think of a more depressing show to marathon. And between zzzs, my husband watches.
5) And it means the end of my vacation. I love my job, I love my kids, but this has been the most UNrestful vacation ever. Can we rewind?
Wow, not a good start to the new year, being all whiny. Maybe it's out of my system 
December 31, 2010
Yeah, That New Year Thing
No idea if I'm going to do anything for New Year's. My husband works, so if I go, I'll be on my own. My friend Lucinda has a party every year, and I have fun, but it's a matter of dragging my butt over there, ifyouknowwhatImean. I'm still Hermit Mary, because really? Only one day of hermiting this vacation. Well, two if you count Sunday when the dh was sick.
But I have made my goals list. It gets a bit repetitive, so to sum up: revise a ton, write 3 books and 2 novellas, walk/eat better and read more.
I'm not doing resolutions this year as much as goals. And I've even broken it down by month.
January
Revise STTA (contracted), Off Limits (revise and resubmit) and Bluestone.
Work on post apoc.
Cut out snacks at planning time and after school. (That will be HARD.)
Judge Golden Heart.
Walk 3 days a week.
Do one promo thing a week.
Read 2 books. (Since the GH will be taking up a ton of time!)
February
My HS bff will be in town. Can't wait!
Finish post apoc and revise.
Start Bluestone 2.
Walk 3 days a week.
Do one promo thing a week.
Read 4 books.
March
Trish coming! Spring Break!
Road Signs Released! (BIG promo planned with Natalie for the whole month—stay tuned!)
Work on Bluestone 2.
Walk 3 days a week.
Read 4 books.
April
My birthday! Easter! Fiesta! TAKS! (yeah, on that last, mostly just happy it will be over)
Work on Bluestone 2.
Walk 3 days a week.
Do one promo thing a week.
Read 4 books.
May
Finish Bluestone 2.
Do one promo thing a week.
Walk 5 days a week (no more tutoring, see?)
Read 4 books.
June
SUMMER VACATION!!!!
Revise Bluestone 2
Start Bluestone 3
Do one promo thing a week.
Walk every day (well, maybe not Sunday.)
Read…6 books? Do I dare try?
July
My son will be 20! :::sob:::
Work on Bluestone 3
One promo thing a week.
Walk every day.
Read 6 books.
August
Back to school AND my son will be going away to college :::sob:::
Finish and revise Bluestone 3
Promo thing
Walk 3 days (it's bloody hot until after dark in August)
Read 4 books.
September
Write a short story.
Walk 3 days (still hot)
Promo thing
Read 4 books
October
Taking the month off from writing.
Walk 4 days a week until tutoring starts
Promo thing
Read 6 books. (Not writing, see?)
November
NANOWRIMO!!!!
Write a new action adventure that I already have in mind.
Promo thing
Walk 3 days a week.
Read when I can.
December
Take off writing until my vacation.
Promo thing.
Walk 3 days a week.
Read 6 books.
What are your plans for the year? Are you doing resolutions?
December 30, 2010
Favorite Movies of the Year
Again, too lazy to go for images. And again, not in order, exactly.
10) Shrek Forever After–for some reason I only like the even numbered Shreks!
9) Iron Man 2–very actiony
Back Up Plan–how cute was Alex?
7) How to Train Your Dragon–LOVED this movie. Took my class last year and after a huge mix-up on theaters, etc, we were absolutely engrossed.
6) The Book of Eli–I love me some post-apocalyptic movies!
5) Zombieland–also this one!
4) Crazy Heart–I didn't think I'd enjoy it, but I really did.
3) The Wolfman–so atmospheric. My mom even liked it.
2) Robin Hood–loved the romance, o'course
1) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows–if only they'd cut the camping part in half…
All in all, I had to struggle to come up with 10. Disappointing year. My son said I missed the best–Social Network and Inception. Maybe.
What about you? What did you love?
Honestly, I need some new Henry pictures.
December 29, 2010
Favorite Books of the Year
I'm sorry I was too lazy to go get the covers for your enjoyment :-/ These aren't in order, just the order I thought of them.
10) Changeless and Soulless by Gail Carringer–I need to get Blameless!
9) The Search by La Nora
Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey
7) Honey Trap by Julie Cohen
6) Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Hunger Games
5) Disaster Status by Candace Calvert—feisty heroine and firefighter hero, le sigh!
4) Winter Longing and The Family Man by Tricia Mills and Trish Milburn—Trish hit twice with these!
3) The Ghost Exterminator by Vivi Andrews
2) Life As We Knew It
1) Happy Ever After by La Nora
Books that converted me to new authors:
Too Good to be True-Kristan Higgins
Duchess by Night Eloisa James
What were your favorites this year?
December 28, 2010
Favorite TV Shows of the Year
It's that time of year–time for my favorites! Some of these will not be a surprise to you
10) The Middle–all the teachers in my grade level do the "Brick whisper"
9) Castle–though not as much as last year
How I Met Your Mother–I love this show as much as Friends. The Thanksgiving episode! And the episode where Teen Robin was in a Teen TV Show. LOLOL!
7) Modern Family–Hi. Lar. I. Ous. I'm so glad the Halloween episode was on Tivo because I was laughing so hard I had to keep rewinding it.
6) Grey's Anatomy–they dragged me back in with the season finale last year. Gripping! And they've carried that tension into this year.
5) Hawaii 5-0–the writing stinks sometimes, but Alex. OH!
4) Supernatural–no longer my number one show 
Too gloomy. But still good.
3) Glee–also not as much as last year–the first half of the first season was awesome. Still, I have 70 songs.
2) Vampire Diaries–just started watching this year and I'm hooked. Team Damon, for sure.
1) Walking Dead–Awe. Some. Gross, but Awe. Some.
What were your favorites this year?
December 27, 2010
To Contest, or Not to Contest?
This is my attitude with my husband this week. I don't feel TOO guilty.
I'm toying with the idea of entering two contests. I'm eligible for two that I know of, and I have the copies of books on hand. I'm just wondering if the effort of going to the post office, and the expense of mailing, will be worth it.
The first is The Award of Excellence, judged by authors and booksellers. The deadline is next Friday. It's $20 and 3 books. Okay, not too bad. I could enter BD and DLB.
The Holt Medallion is $30 and 4 books. I can enter Sunrise copied onto a CD (have to print out the cover) so shipping wouldn't be bad. I could also enter DLB and BD.
I just wonder if the effort and expense is worth it. I haven't really seen an increase in sales with the Eppie, but it's not as high profile as these contests. What do you think? Would you enter?
December 26, 2010
And Now…Business As Usual?
I finished revising my bodyguard book yesterday and started revising my NaNoWriMo book (aka Bluestone) but this morning I realized if I want to submit my post-apoc for the Samhain anthology, I have 2 months and a WEEK to write it. 30 K, but still. If I write 5K a week, that's 6 weeks, not much time to revise. SO this week I'll be revising the NaNo book because I want to submit it to an agent, and writing 500 words a day on the post-apoc.
I am SO GRATEFUL for winter break! (We're back to Henry because he's the model for the hero in Bluestone.)
December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas!!!
Yeah, I have a feeling I'll be up by myself awhile. The boy didn't get in until 1:30 and the husband took Nyquil at about 4 this morning. So I'll be by the tree reading/waiting. We're going to my brother's so all I have to do is make green bean casserole. And maybe finish revisions on my bodyguard book. I have 10 pages to go.
Right now there's a gorgeous sunrise in the making behind me. And last night my family opened presents. I was so touched that my brothers and SIL went together to buy me this:
Not the world's greatest pic, but I'd seen this girl's work at a craft show and said if I got a good royalty check from Carina, I'd buy myself one. Imagine my surprise when I opened it and saw it. Baby Brother took my SIL down to the Southwest School of Art to get it for me. Love!
So, did you get something that really touched you? (Mind, I may be posting more pictures after I open my presents here, just our little family. I know my son bought me books, but WHICH ONES??
Merry Merry Christmas!
December 22, 2010
Books I'm Looking Forward To
I've been spending WAY too much time online browsing books. Because, you know, I don't have enough! But in so doing, I've found a number I'm really looking forward to.
First of all, Natalie, Kelly and I all have books out this spring. None of us have covers yet, though, so be on the look out!
Also, the next 2 books in the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carringer will be out. I've not read Blameless yet, but I loved the first two! (She doesn't have a cover yet, either.)
Then there's the new Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I loved her last book, can't wait for this one.
Then there are the next two Virgin River books. I think I have one left to catch up on first.
Then there's the next Joss Ware. I have one more to catch up here, too, but I'm thinking I'll start reading it next week. I love me some post-apocalyptic drama at Christmas time!
My good friend Lee McKenzie has a new Harlequin American out next month, too.
Then I saw this cover and I read the blurb (treasure hunter! Adventure!) and I must have it.
And for once, I got an idea before La Nora. Her next single title is about a smokejumper! WOOT!
What books are you looking forward to this year?
