Joely Sue Burkhart's Blog, page 79

Back to School

Tomorrow's the day — the monsters head back to a brand new year of school.  I'm not as prepared as I'd hoped, but with the delay in getting our A/C fixed, it's the best I could do.  Plus we were out of town Sat. for my MIL's birthday. 

So today was full with a massive grocery run to stock up on school lunch and snack items.  Laundry, of course (it never ends).  I also wanted to start them off with fresh bedding, which isn't as easy as it sounds, because their beds are buried beneath stuffed...

Friday Snippet

My apologies:  I don't have a Shadowed snippet this week.  Honestly, I haven't worked on it since last week — just too busy getting the kids registered for school, etc.  However, I hope that once you see what I *have* been working on this past week, that a few of you will forgive me.

First draft, subject to heavy revision.  Warning for language. 

What the hell is she up to?

Elias shifted on her bed, trying to figure out what was taking her so long in the bathroom. Last night, they'd been too...

Terrible

This past week, I've read Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts trilogy Unholy Ghosts, Unholy Magic, and City of Ghosts.  I read the last two back to back, even staying up half the night last night in order to finish the series.   (3 AM and I had to work today!)

It's been on my mind all day.  I obviously enjoyed the books to gobble them so quickly, but I'm not left satisfied and happy.  No, the more I think about it, the more terrible I feel.

Terrible.  If you've read these books, you know what a...

Fun in the Country

The monsters called with tales of all the fun things they're doing in the country.  They went fishing last night and today, supposedly catching a TON of bass and perch.  They've ridden Papa's poor horses to death, learning how to trot and even riding outside of the corral.

Today, they went to an Amish farm and got to milk a cow, pet a goat, and ride in a buggy.  How cool is that?  I want to go!

Seriously, every time we go to Papa's I get the country yearning.  I want a garden and animals of my ...

Friday Snippet: Shadowed

Continuing from last week, this is Gregar's story.  Note:  first draft, subject to change and heavy revision later before I compile the complete short story.

With Kae'Shaman's instruction, I parted the mark's dream as easily as a tent flap and stepped within. I had no need of the man's name or Camp to know he was my target, because Vulkar's Call pounded fiercely in my head, thundering hooves to split my skull wide open.

Kae'Shaman had assured me that a mark eliminated in his own dream would...

Break 20 Contest Winners & Update

The winners of the two $50 gift certificates are:

Soleil and Rae Lori.

Please e-mail your choice of online book retailer to me at joelysueburkhart AT gmail DOT com for your $50 gift certificate!

Everyone else, don't give up hope.  I've decided to keep the contest open until we hit 20 Amazon reviews.  If you rate or review any of my books anywhere, good or bad, drop me an email to be entered.  (If you already entered, you're golden — no need to e-mail me again unless it's a new link.)

For the...

Raves, Rants, and Releases

I wrote my first rant/hate letter to Trane today.  Now they're telling us that they have no idea when our compressor will be in — because a hurricane in Mexico washed out all the roads.  Nothing can stop a Trane…except a hurricane in Mexico?!?  Meanwhile, school starts in two weeks and my kids are sleeping on the floor in our bedroom (and have been since June) because that's where the window unit is.  Oh, and it hit 115 heat index this week.  Yay for Trane! 

As for raves, thank you to Nicole f...

I'm Melting

Tomorrow, I'll be at Nadia Lee's blog talking about changes in my writing process over the years.

Sorry about my lack of blog posts lately.  I'm suffering from the dog days of summer.  Can't seem to wake up early, can't seem to stay up late, can't focus.  Thank God the kids go back to school in two weeks, but that also means I have school shopping to finish.  I need to organize, clean out their drawers and their room, all of which is complicated by no central A/C.

Yes, we've been without A/C...

Friday Snippet: Shadowed

Some men tremble in the face of death.

Others bare their teeth and fight to the very end.

While I'm the cold Shadow that glides forth from darkness to slit your throat before you even know I'm there. 

My name is Gregar and I'm the deadliest, most honored assassin on the Sha'Kae al'Dan's Sea of Grass.  They call us Death Riders, for we ride death like the wind across the rolling Plains.  My hair is heavy with red kae'als, each bead a life that I have snuffed out in the Great Wind Stallion's...

Is This Gregar?

Since Gregar's been haunting me again, I went on another search for an image I could use for his freebie/short (I haven't decided if it'll be FREE or .99 but it for sure won't be more than that–depends on length, etc.).  I looked on at least 10 sites.  Bare chests and abs blended together.  Either I found someone with the right body type — but not the right face — or vice versa.  Of course nobody has the right hair.  I decided to just get body type and face close, and then hope Deena can...