Hailey Rose's Blog, page 12
November 23, 2016
Sweet Miss Benita
I was finally able to get a photo with this dear lady. She is the last person I’m aware of who actually knew Clara personally! How fantastic is that?!?! She has been a wealth of information regarding the McDonalds and surrounding families. It was such a joy to finally be able to share the finished product with her–she was excited, too!
When I *cough* interrogated Miss Benita about what she remembered about Clara, she said: “Clara really was the neatest lady. She wasn’t cranky or grumpy–I remember I liked her. I would have been only six or seven–she died when I was eleven–but I remember she was a sweet lady and was very king to us kids.”
Is that not amazing!?! I still can’t believe that I can TALK to someone to talked to Clara!
Don’t forget to pick up your Kindle copy of The Old River Road.
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November 21, 2016
The Birthday of a Special Lady
Tomorrow, November 22, would be the birthday of Clara McDonald, my great-great-grandma, and the main character of The Old River Road.
(Notice I don’t say which birthday, because in all honesty, I don’t know! I have not been able to find a conclusive birthdate for her. However, I know she was born between 1866 and 1868, so I picked 1867. ;-) )
In honor of Clara’s birthday, The Old River Road will be on sale this entire week!!! If you’ve wanted to pick up this story, now is the time. Please share with your friends!
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November 16, 2016
Writing in the Midst of Life
I’m a college student. (Though only part time this semester hallelujah!!). That means 15-20 hours a week are dedicated to school.
I work part time. Another 15 hours each week.
I read 7-10 books a month. (No idea the hours on that.)
I’m a musician. Approx 3 hours a week (I’m in a slump right now).
I’m a martial artist. 1 or 2 days a week, I’m at the Dojang for 3 hours each time.
I’m trying to shave down blogging to an hour or two per month.
Somewhere in all of that, I have to have some kind of family life.
Yet I also want to write.
So how do I do it?
To be honest, not very well. A lot of days, I feel like I’m riding a spiraling roller coaster into “the depth of despair” (as Anne of Green Gables would say).
Other days, I sorta feel like I come out on top.
So what makes the difference?
Let me introduce you to this lovely little device called a timer.
The timer has changed my life. I decide how much time I want to dedicate to a particular project, then split it up into 20, 30, or 50 minute increments, depending on how my brain is functioning. Here’s how it works.
After a 20 minute set, I get a 5 minute break. That’s enough for 20 pushups and a fresh cup of water, or 3 TaeKwonDo forms.
After a 3o minute set, I get an 8 minute break. That’s enough to make a cup of coffee, do a quick desk tidy-up, or 5 TaeKwonDo forms.
After a 50 minute set, I get a 20 minute break. That’s enough to read a chapter of a book, reply to an email, play with the dog…or write 250 words.
Here’s the most important thing: set a timer for the breaks, too!!!! You’ll regret it if you don’t. (Speaking from experience.)
And also, switch between two projects/school subjects. Twenty minutes on this, twenty minutes on that. I was shocked with how my productivity skyrocketed when I did that.
If I don’t do that, this is what happens.
*clears throat* *coughs* yeah–not what I wanted.
So, this is great and all, but what does it have to do with writing?
A lot!! When I get done what I need to get done during the day, my evenings are free to write. Or edit. Or outline. Or–whatever! But even when I’m writing, I set a timer. Seeing exactly when I’m going to get a break helps me remain focused.
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What do you do to keep yourself on track? Have you ever used a timer?
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November 15, 2016
Courage and Corruption Blog Tour
About the Book
Catherine is going with her mother and younger siblings to the mountains to hide from the coming war. While she fears what might happen she is looking forward to some time away from her twin brother, with whom she often fights. One foolish act changes all their plans, and one story caused not only confusion, but more fighting.
Christopher does not believe his father’s story that they are descended from royalty. He is sure the story his father tells cannot be true. However, he is forced to go to the mountain castle of Coraway along with his mother and siblings. Will his father ever see him as a man? Will he and his twin ever be able to stop fighting?
Little do Catherine and Christopher realize that they hold the key to Taelis’ future in their hands. While they discover the truth before it is too late?
Find it on Goodreads
About the Author
Sarah Holman is a not so typical mid-twenties girl: A homeschool graduate, sister to six awesome siblings, and author of many published books and short stories. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it is because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined.
You can find her at her website: www.thedestinyofone.com
My Review:
4 of 5 stars
Courage and Corruption was a sweet, romance-free story of two siblings and their struggle to get along. It wasn’t your typical cutesy sibling rivalry story, as the twins were 15. Their constant bickering was becoming a huge problem and lack of maturity was keeping them from doing things that other children their age did. I think any reader who has siblings can relate to the desire to argue. This story shows what can happen when bickering is allowed to get out of hand.
There was one plot twist I wasn’t at all expecting, which is always fun! I’m looking forward to reading forthcoming books in this series!
Follow the Tour
November 15
November 16
Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Father
November 17
November 19
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November 9, 2016
VAVC #2, Oct-Dec Edition 2016
November 2, 2016
November Goals/Writing Update
I’m going to go back to monthly wrap posts, but instead of trying to wrap up October, I’m just going to start with November goals. :P
And since I don’t have time to make a cool feature image, let me leave you with this neat picture I took yesterday that I’m a little proud of.
Writing
Even though I’m not participating in NaNoWriMo, I’m going to be fixing up and finishing a bunch of other projects.
Finish Even Through Rain
Publish above short story (Information forthcoming)
Complete edits on secret project (Details forthcoming)
Send said project to editor
COMPLETELY OUTLINE Long Lake Legacy book 2. (LOTS of details forthcoming ;-P )
I don’t really have any other specific goals for this month other than writing, since that will be my focus. But who knows…life has been throwing me curveballs as of late!! ;-)
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Do you have any goals for November?
Are you doing NaNo?
If not, are you working on something else?
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October 26, 2016
Zee Loveliness
*cue sarcastic grin*
I was supposed to have a nice, sparkly post going up today. But THAT NOT HAPPENIN’. It’s 12:30 a.m., and I just finished studying. Life is not being kind to me right now. But that’s OKAY–cuz what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? Or it teaches you to be sarcastic or…something.
Anyway.
No post today. Just me dumb ramblings and poor grammar.
I’m leaving for a 5 day trip tomorrow. I have two empty suitcases sitting in my bedroom that need to be filled. I have school to finish before going to the airport tomorrow morning. I have overdue thank-you notes to write. I have applications to make. I have food to eat. I’m all out of chocolate. And right now, I’m rather sore from sparring class and just want to go to sleep.
This is making me think of that song from Annie: “To-morrow, to-morrow, I love ya! To-morrow! You’re always a day away.”
Sorry I have nothing of substance to share with you.
I’m coming to the realization that being an adult is not so fun. This halfway adult thing is already miserable enough.
PS, does anyone enjoy these incredibly unprofessional lifestyle posts? Or shall I just be quiet when I have nothing to post and skip a week?
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October 19, 2016
So Much Awesomeness
THAT IS A LAME TITLE, I KNOW.
*sigh*
Give me a break. I somehow managed to catch this dumb cold my family got (LITTLE KIDS STARTED IT) and now the cold medicine is making me woozy.
Stupid cold aside, onto the awesomeness.
First of the awesome awesomeness is Mr. Douglas Bond, who has been mentoring me for a few years, interviewed me on his blog. *insert crazy dancing and squealing* Isn’t that wonderful?!? I’m so blessed to have him as a mentor.
Second of the awesomeness is I got to meet Miss Jesseca Wheaton of Whimsical Writings!!!! She was visiting Emily McConnell, whom I’d met a few months prior. Emily and I really hit it off back in April, but due to busy schedules hadn’t been able to meet up since. It was wonderful for me to see Emily again, and meet Jesseca at the same time!
Emily, Jesseca, and I (squinting in the very bright sun ;-) )
*sighs happily* We had such a good time together. We met at a coffee shop and talked there for three hours (though it felt like 5 minutes). Emily and Jesseca had to go home after that to be available for some younger siblings, but Emily invited me to come along so we could keep talking. (How sweet is that?!?) We talked and laughed for another three hours–and definitely could have kept on going! It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. We exchanged books, contemplated the woes of focusing on any given project (well–that was just Emily and I. Jesseca is very good at focus and concentration), talked about coffee, played with Emily’s animals, drank apple cider …
And oh my goodness, Jesseca is such a sweetheart. I’m so glad it worked out to get together. We’re already scheming for next time she comes!!! :)
Just as a side note, if you ever get the chance to meet any of your blog friends, DO IT!!!!! It is SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!
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October 15, 2016
The Very Awesome Vlog Challenge #2, Oct-Dec Edition
The VAVC is a bi-monthly link-up that anyone can join! All you have to do is answer my three questions in your vlog, post the video and add your link to the link-up below. Also, make sure to grab the image and link back to this page in your post.
(To learn more about VAVC, click here)
Questions for the Oct-Dec challenge:
What book (other than the Bible) changed who you are as a person?
How long have you taken writing seriously?
What is one of your favorite holiday traditions?
After you post your video, don’t forget to come back and add your link to the widget on the Vlog Challenge page.
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FYI, I’m aware that I totally screwed up and didn’t post the link-up widget right. I’m working on that. It *should* work this time around.
Also, if my blogging friends don’t do this–especially the ones who have said that they really should–I’m gonna start tagging you!!!! ;) *evil laugh*
Ready, set, GO!!!! I wanna see your vlogs!
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