Lissa Matthews's Blog, page 16

Open-Ended Stories and Why I Write Them

If you’ve been reading my books for any length of time, you know there are some that have the beginning of more stories embedded inside. Whether it be characters or scenes from places or maybe a minor unresolved thread. Not all of my books start off as series and not all of them need or warrant additional books. I do this for several reasons that might not be apparent to all readers.

One… So it leaves the readers wondering and questioning. I always like shows and movies that leave me curious...

New Release! Christmas Wishes

Happy Release Day to ME!

Or, happy re-release day to me. A version of this story was included in an anthology last Christmas, A Very Alpha Christmas. That anthology is what allowed me to say that I was a USA Today Bestselling Author. To say it was an incredible feeling would be an understatement.

I haven’t re-released my story from that collection until now because I wanted it to come out at Christmas. I’ve doubled the word count, added a bit more back story and a few additional characters...

Music Monday – Band Aid: Do They Know It’s Christmas

This is the original. This is the one that’s best. This is the one that’s awesome.

And this song is a tradition. It still gives me goosebumps every year I listen to it. And the meaning behind it, is still valid to this day. Only not just in Africa, but in many places around the world and even in the U.S. As advanced as our world is, as incredible as some of us are, there is still so much work to be done.

~lissa

Sunday Speeds – December 11, 2016

It’s been a long time since I’ve done one of these catch up and evaluate posts.

The 2016 Nascar season came and went and I barely said a word about it.

The 2016 College Football Season came and went and I didn’t say anything about it, either. There are still bowl games and playoffs and the championship to go, so who knows, I might give a rundown of the games.

The point is, I’ve been relatively quiet about things I love, about passion, about writing, about anything and everything.

It’s 14 day...

10K Weekends For Writers: December 8-11, 2016

Are you ready to write?

I am. I have the timer set and I’m ready for the words to pour out from my fingers to the pages in Word.

I’ll be working on finishing up a holiday release called Just A Kiss…At Christmas. It will get finished this weekend. It will be published before Christmas. It might kill me, but it’s going to happen. I need between 7K and 10K words on it.

So, let’s get to it, shall we?

#10kweekendsforwriters on social media.

Grab the graphic from the sidebar if you’d like for your...

Music Monday – Michael Buble: Santa Baby

This is one of those songs that’s cute and all about the material things one wants for him or herself for Christmas. The song itself is harmless, but it fits completely with the thoughts of one of my characters in my upcoming book Christmas Wishes. In the story, Santa’s son and lead reindeer (shifter) Rand, believes that humanity is nothing less than spoiled and greedy and he wonders what it’s all for…

The book will be out next week.

What’s on your Christmas list for Santa to bring?

~lissa

10K Weekends For Writers – December 1-4, 2016

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted this challenge and well, that’s my bad. I try to do it every week, but I get busy and with Thanksgiving 7 days ago, I was a little busy.

But I’m back at it and that means you have a chance to be back at it, too.

I am working on finishing up Christmas Wishes for release, then I’ll be working on finishing up the writing for Just A Kiss…At Christmas, and the revisions for The Swing.

What are you working on? Do you need word count? Well… If you didn’...

Music Monday – Baby, It’s Cold Outside

I love this version of the song. I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And I have incredible respect for Lady Gaga and the voice she’s got, the talent she possesses.

It’s the Monday after Thanksgiving and here in Charlotte, it’s gloomy and chilly and it’s feeling a little different today. I haven’t been in the holiday spirit and I don’t know that I will at all this season, but it never hurts to try with a little music…

~lissa

Where There Is Gratitude…

For the past 3 months, I have been keeping a gratitude log. In it, I add a quote for the month, and each day I write down 3 or more things I am grateful for… It could be anything from coffee to a text from one of my kids to the ability to cook to polar bear adoption to writing to getting a good night’s sleep. But 3 things, at least.

I started the log because I wanted to learn how to be more grateful, to be more consciously thankful for every day things. I can get so stressed out about money o...

Music Monday – Halestorm: I Am The Fire

It’s no secret, or shouldn’t be that I love hard rock and heavy metal. I grew up in the 80’s when glam rock was all the rage. I will be honest and say that I thought I would grow out of it. I’m 45 years old. Shouldn’t I be listening to something milder? Not still wanting to bang my head? Maybe. I don’t know. But so far, I still love it. I still love the rawness, the screams, the hard beats that you can’t find in any other sort of music… It makes all your insides jump until your blood is pumpi...