Jennifer Apodaca's Blog, page 77

Weekend Roundup

We had a stay-at-home weekend, which is nice. I got two main things done; a draft of the blurb for Savaged Devotion, and I did a newsletter. Wow, can I just say, I miss Anna (my assistant) It took me forever to navigate my newsletter site. Then I had to figure out a logo. I’ll have a better one done later, right now, I just did a placeholder that is okay for now. I’m working through my fast growing list of things to accomplish. Once I get this stuff a little more under control, I’ll start writing PRIMAL MAGIC. Being an eternal optimist, I’m hoping to write a quick and dirty first draft, but the realist in my rolls her eyes at my foolish dreams.

Maggie went to the vet on Saturday. She loves going in the car! With Covid-19, our animal care hospital asks the customers stay in the car, then they come out wearing masks and take them inside. Since the vet tech is also Youngest Son’s wife, Maggie was thrilled to go with her. She trotted off and didn’t even bother looking back. Overall Maggie’s healthy and in good shape, but she’s gained a pound in the last year and is just a tad over her optimal weight. When her awesome vet told me that (she came out to the car since we’re also friends) I looked at Maggie and laughed. “Like mother like daughter. Time for diets!” She didn’t care, she just wagged her tail. Honestly, I’m happy the vet and my daughter-in-law take such good care of Maggie, and tell me things I can do now to prevent problems later.

But Wizard’s reaction when I told him was hilarious. “Are they calling her FAT? What? Do they think she should be stick thin like a model? Maggie’s not fat! She’s fine!”

I snort-laughed so hard, it’s a wonder my eyes didn’t pop out. I finally convinced him that it was more of a gentle reminder to keep taking good care of Maggie so she doesn’t continue gaining weight and develop painful and expensive health problems that reduce her quality of life. I finally convinced him it’s important for us to be on top of this.

Today is Biker Witch’s birthday! We have plans to go to lunch at a winery where they have a big outdoor shaded terrace. It should be reasonably Covid-safe, and I’m happy to take the risk to see my sister. I miss her!

So that’s my weekend, how was yours?

Friday Five

TGIF and how crazy it is that we’re in October? It’s been the longest and shortest and weirdest year. Anyhow, time to share five random things about our week:

I sent SAVAGED DEVOTION off to copyediting, yay! I also have formatting scheduled for November. Probably the hardest thing is to accept I’ve done the best I can on the story I love.
I’m very grateful that my two editors and formatter are all working me into their schedules. But that also means I don’t have a firm publishing date. I’m shooting for mid November for SAVAGED DEVOTION’s release.
We went and looked at a new one story house. First time we’ve done anything close to house shopping since Covid, and of course, we did all the things we’re supposed to like wearing face masks. We both liked the house, but there’s always a drawback like, you know, not winning lotto
Maggie has a well check appointment on Saturday, and is due for two vaccine boosters. Thankfully she has another two years before she needs rabies booster since that shot makes her sick.
I’m making lists to publish and do some mini-marketing, and since I don’t have an assistant at this moment, I’m going to need to clone myself. I have so much to re-learn, or learn for new things.

That’s my short five, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Judging nonfiction by fiction?

I’m listening to a true crime novel about a serial rapist, and it’s such a disappointment. I really wanted to love it when I read the blurb, but it’s stuffed full of pointless backstory right down to the history of the first female cop in one of the departments working the case. And to make it worse, it’s poorly organized. You know what I keep thinking as I slog through this thing? The author needs to read J.D. Robb’s IN DEATH series to learn how to organize a true crime story.

Umm…J.D. Robb writes fiction not true crime! I know that, of course. Yet, I can’t help myself, the J.D. Robb crime solving is tight, focused and chronological with just enough backstory that we understand the character, science (even if it’s made up, it’s still consistent and understandable) and motivations.

I know I shouldn’t judge a non-fiction by fiction, but it’s where my brain goes every time I listen to the book. Anyone else ever do this?

Weekend Roundup

A good weekend. Saturday, we went to see Turbo. He’s an energetic little guy and usually good humored, with an occasional meltdown thrown in to remind us he’s a toddler I treasure the hugs and kisses. Also, he loves brownies. I gave him small one, then he tried really hard to charm me into a second one. I threw that on his dad by telling Turbo his dad said no, LOL! CPA boy accepted the blame with good grace and redirected Turbo’s attention. CPA Boy seems amused that I’ve gone from a rules-and-structure parent to a softy Grandma.

Surprisingly, when we got home, I had energy to do some more reading through my hard copy edit too.

Sunday, Wizard was gone and I got a ton of stuff done, including another 100 pages of the book edited on hard copy. Assuming I don’t find any surprise plot problems toward the end, I should have this book to my copyeditor on Friday. It will likely sit in her queue for a while, but that’s okay I have a lot of other things to take care of to prepare for publishing, and down the road, get to work on the Wing Slayers.

How was your weekend?

Friday Five

TGIF! This week came and went. I swear it was Monday, I blinked and Friday appeared. Okay time to share five random things about our week:

I read Wednesdays blog comments to Maggie, but life got in the way of me answering for her. I’m sorry!
Life has been irritating us this week. Nothing serious, just one of the annoying joys of home ownership. But it should be all fixed next week.
I finished my revisions, printed the book and am doing the hard copy edit. I also contacted my copyedited, and she’ll do her pass on the book in October. Progress!!
It just dawned on me I’m going to have to write the dreaded back cover blurb for the book
I think we’re going to see Turbo on Saturday. I’m looking forward to that, although I usually come hope wiped out. One day this week, I walked Maggie, went grocery shopping, spent a few hours helping Wizard move heavy concrete chunks around (don’t ask!) and take them to the dump, then I came home and worked straight through until dinner. But after playing with a toddler for three hours, I can’t get up off the couch, LOLOL!

That’s my five, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a terrific weekend!

Maggie Has a Question

Hi guys, it’s me Maggie. I just wanted to say Hi, since Mom is all busy doing important stuffs like hunting passive words and phrases in her book.

Do you all want to know what I’m thinking about so hard in this picture?

 

Well, I’m wondering, is hunting words as fun as hunting lizards?

Mom say to tell you all Happy Wednesday!

Weekend Roundup

Yep, there was a weekend!

I had a nice break Saturday afternoon when Wizard, me and Maggie went to middle son and his wife’s house. Wizard was helping middle son work on one of his R.C. Cars, and the two of them together managed to break it worse than when they started, LOL! Okay, the truth it was an old motor that blew up, which happens, but it’s more fun the way I tell it. In the meantime, my daughter-in-law and I sat out back with their two sweet and funny dogs, Jett and Hazel, and Maggie. It was a really nice visit.

We also did two video chats with Turbo since we didn’t see him in person. It’s pretty cool how technology can keep us connected.

The rest of the weekend, I worked, and yesterday afternoon, I finished this major revision pass. I’m pretty danged happy about that. Through this revision process I’ve deleted 57 pages, which should tighten up the book significantly and makes me feel better. I have to edit a few little things, which I’ll probably work on today. Then I’ll do another hardcore proofread/cleanup of the entire book. I’ll probably contact the copyeditor I use and see if/when she has room in her schedule.

That was my weekend, how was yours?

Friday Five

TGIF! Time to jump into sharing five random things about our week:

I feel for all those suffering the damage from wind, rains and flooding from Hurricane Sally. Mother Nature needs to go on Xanax and knock this crap off.
Next month we will have had Maggie for three years! She’s the Princess of the house and runs our lives. But she’s also such a sweet natured dog…unless she’s chasing lizards, then she’s ruthless.
It took me an insane amount of days to come up with a rough five page scene to fix the final plot problem. I wrote several scenes but they all felt flat to me, so I deleted them because, well, that’s how I roll. I’m going to clean up the scene tomorrow, and adjust a couple other scenes to support it. Then onto editing the rest. it’s ridiculous how long it’s taken me, but my speed with come back as I regain my writing confidence.
Here’s a picture of me with my tomato plant to show you how big my “baby” has grown. I’m casually dressed cuz it’s hot and this was a spur of the moment pic. I’ve been in a battle with bugs on this guy, but so far, I’m winning and I have several tomatoes growing.[image error]
And here is my bell pepper plant. He’s thriving with three baby bell peppers and a lot more blooms. We’ll see if I can get any of them to maturity. If you look close, you’ll see someone photobombed this shot with her tail [image error]

So that’s my week, now I’d love to hear about yours! I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend!

 

Wednesday Heroes

Today these guys and gals are my heroes:

I’m proud and inspired by how hard firefighters, and all the first responders, battle beyond exhaustion. They ignore politics and the dark side of humanity to do the work to save lives, and homes, but lives come first.

Who is your hero today?

Weekend Roundup

Saturday was filled with Turbo kisses! He’s so affectionate with us now. And I love that when he gets here, he runs up the sidewalk, comes right in, says hi and just starts playing. He knows where his toys are, and what he’s allowed to play with. But boy, he was so tired after playing, going up and down the stairs, having fun with Maggie, swimming, eating chocolate and more playing. They left at 7 and he slept through until 8 the next morning.

Saturday was a bright spot in a hard week with the fires, and two police officers ambushed and shot while sitting in their car.

Sunday Wizard went racing, I struggled all freaking day with the last plot point driving me crazy. I need to nail this down today. If I can’t, I’ll be asking anyone I can find for help! A good night’s sleep might help me crack this code though.

That was my weekend, how was yours?