W.S. Carmichael's Blog, page 4
February 14, 2017
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Twelve years ago today, I went on a first date with the man who would become the love of my life. There was a snow storm that night, but neither of us wanted to cancel, so we met for drinks and he brought me a box of Godiva chocolates. (They were delicious, by the way.)
Over the last twelve years, we have had our ups and downs just like anyone else. We are very different people with very different outlooks on life. Opposites attract, but they don’t always mesh well. Sometimes we drive each other crazy, although we do have an unspoken rule that only one of us can be unreasonable at a time. I would be lying if I didn’t admit to taking more than my fair share of turns on the irrational merry-go-round.
But, I was lucky enough to fall in love with a man who is willing to forgive my shortcomings. A man who met a younger woman with three small children and not only accepted them as a package deal, but has loved those children as his own. A man who has always encouraged any crazy idea I get into my head, never stifling my dreams, no matter what. A man who understands I am not responsible for anything I say or do when I’m hungry. A man who has loved me through the most difficult times and celebrated with me in the most joyous. A man I am proud to call my husband.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Doug. You are my great love.
February 5, 2017
All 4 Love Indie Romance Sale
Hello Fellow Romance Lovers!
I want to let everyone know about a great event going on February 11 &12. It’s called the All 4 Love Indie Romance Sale. There’s a whole group of really great authors who’ve teamed up to offer an array of romance novels super cheap or free!
There’s something for everyone! Contemporary, historical, LGBT, paranormal, etc.
You can see the author list now by Clicking Here.
Check it out!
January 24, 2017
Backup Oreos
While I was cooking dinner tonight, my children were scavenging for snacks, because it would be cruel and unusual punishment for them to wait twenty minutes. I’m not paying much attention to the horde of ravenous teenagers descending on the snack cabinet like locusts – until I hear the phrase “Backup Oreos”.
Let me give you the context.
Dougie, the man child: Did you guys eat all those Oreos?
Haleigh: Sorry, those Cinnamon Bun Oreos were delicious.
(She’s right. They were delicious.)
Dougie: Dang it! (Then quieter) Hey, Hunter. Where are those backup Oreos?
Hunter: Which ones? The ones you bought last week or my stash?
(Which ones?! Why do we have ANY, let alone multiple packs of backup Oreos?)
Dougie: I don’t care, any ones.
Hunter: They’re hidden in my room. You can go get some.
I stopped listening after that. There are some things a mother doesn’t need to know.
For the record, my children are active and a healthy weight. I feed them regularly, and although I don’t buy a ton of junk food, they do have some treats. There is no good reason for food hording to be a thing in my house – except, of course, for the fact that there is a flock of vultures masquerading as my children. It’s every man for himself when it comes to snacks.
Does stuff like this go on in other people’s houses? Or are my children crazy? Don’t answer that. They’re crazy. I know it. They know it. I can only pray that there is never a zombie apocalypse. I shudder to imagine what would happen if the backup Oreos ran out.
January 22, 2017
I’m good, thanks.
I’d like to start off today’s post with a couple of disclaimers.
First, I promise this will be the first, last and only somewhat political post. This website is intended to promote my writing and connect with my readers, and it will remain as such.
Second, there are social injustices in this country. I am in no way, shape or form negating that fact.
That being said, a few thoughts have occurred to me as I am bombarded with twenty-four-hour news coverage of the Women’s Marches around the country. I’ve spent much of today reflecting on some of my accomplishments.
This year alone, I started a publishing company, published my first novel, launched a website and promoted the aforementioned. I have gotten up early in the morning to drive myself to work at a job where my male counterparts make exactly the same pay I do. Sometimes, I exercise before work, sometimes I’m too lazy. I have cleaned my house and other days I have neglected my chores. Most nights, I will cook dinner for my family. Other nights, I am too busy or just plain don’t feel like it. I have managed to attend to my feminine needs without ruining my bedding or my clothes, because, unlike Ashley Judd, my mother taught me about basic personal hygiene. I have learned how to defend myself because I refuse to be a victim. Everything accomplished without permission from my husband.
The list goes on. In the past, I have had a child out of wedlock without being stoned to death. Twelve years ago, I made the life altering decision to file for divorce because it was the right thing to do for myself and my children. No one stopped me. I fell in love again, choosing to cohabitate for over seven years before remarrying. There were no honor killings in my house.
I personally know women who have had numerous abortions for no reason other than they changed their minds. This is not a joke, I know several who use abortion as a form of birth control, most of the time without the knowledge or consent of the father. Never have they been beaten in the streets.
My point is, in this day and age, we have laws to protect against sexism, racism, ageism, etc. If those laws are violated, there should be swift and decisive justice. We all have equal rights under the law.
For the love of God, please stop marching for me. I don’t need another woman to come riding up on her white horse to save me anymore than I need a man to. Go march for the women in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, China or anywhere else women are actually being oppressed.
Rant over, soapbox now safely stored away.
January 15, 2017
Why Me? (Insert Eye Roll Emoji)
Current situation in my house – I find my son’s ‘Shark in a Jar’ in the living room. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s a small jar filled with formaldehyde with a preserved shark of some sort in it. The kind you would see in a souvenir shop. Now, before I get hate mail from every animal lover on the planet, Nick’s shark was a gift from his older brother. I am not in the habit of drowning sea creatures in toxic chemicals for my personal enjoyment.
Anyway, I find this thing in the living room, cap securely in place. No formaldehyde in the jar, just a shark. “Where is the liquid?”, you may ask. I have no idea.
Cue my daughter, Hunter, “Mom. I stepped in something sticky earlier. Maybe it was shark juice.”
Me: “It wasn’t shark juice.”
Hunter: “It could have been shark juice.”
Me: “The shark is not decomposing. It’s preserved. Did you clean it up?”
Hunter: “Mom, stop changing the subject.”
This is what I live with.
If you don’t know already, I have three teenagers. My daughters, Hunter and Haleigh, are 17 and 15, respectively. My son, Nick, is 14. Adding to the chaotic humor in my house is my step-son, Dougie, age 28.
Some of you reading this may know my children. If you do, you aren’t surprised by the possibility of one of them creating a biohazard in my house. If you don’t know them, just wait. More stories will be forthcoming. Most will be hilarious, some disturbing, all will be true.
January 11, 2017
Six Days Post Release and Still Not Famous!
I have to admit, when I decided to write and self-publish, I had this fantasy that I would release my book and it would instantly become a best seller. Alright, maybe not instantly. I was willing to wait two or three days.
I was fully prepared to ignore the marketing part. Turns out, it doesn’t work that way. If you don’t market, you don’t sell. Unfortunate, because I’m excellent at ignoring things I don’t want to do. I’ve spent the better part of the week marketing my first book and it still isn’t a best seller. Clearly, there is some kind of conspiracy against me.
I’ve never been one of those “Look at me! Look at me!” type of girls, so demanding random people not only be aware of my accomplishment, but also spend their hard-earned money on it, goes against my natural tendencies.
Alas, there is a small part of me that is fiendishly enjoying all this self-promotion. Let’s just hope I can keep my ego in check. At least until I really do become a world-famous author with legions of adoring fans, that is.
Good night and happy reading.
January 10, 2017
My First Blog
Alright, everyone. I am brand new at this blogging thing. And I’m virtually clueless when it comes to setting up websites. That being said, I hope you are able to navigate the site without too much difficulty. I’ve spent several hours setting it up. Hours which would have been better put to use writing the second book in the Laurel Creek series. Oh, well. Website design is one of the many housekeeping duties I didn’t plan on when I set out to become an author. However, I must admit I’m loving every minute of this crazy journey I’m on.
I am, by nature, a private person. The need to market my first book, At Long Last, has catapulted me out of my comfort zone. I’ve outed myself as an aspiring writer to virtually everyone I know. Until last week, only a very select few people knew I was working on my first manuscript. Even my mother had no idea until I downloaded At Long Last to her Kindle! Since then, I have been humbled and amazed at the response. The support and encouragement I’ve received has erased all of my self doubt. Well, most of it, anyway. Self publishing has forced me to take a leap of faith. It’s been scary and exciting, but I am up for the challenge.
I’ll keep this first post short. Wishing you all a goodnight!