Angela Verdenius's Blog, page 15

May 19, 2015

Fly with Me excerpt

Just a quick note for anyone interested, the excerpt for Fly with Me is up on my website!

Also, I had to take 2 of my kitties to the vet this morning to have their teeth cleaned. Lacey cried all the way there, Lily gave me the big baby eyes. So they're at the vet now and I'm sitting here feeling like a total heel...
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Published on May 19, 2015 18:43 Tags: fly-with-me-excerpt

May 13, 2015

All Done! And Cats! And now!...

Yes! All editing done! Everything ready, all systems go for Fly with Me on the 31st May! YES!!!

I've also managed to watch HEAPS of Friends on my days off nursing, and read a lot. And taken the furries to the vet for their vaccinations - yep, Abby and Polly swore at the vet nurse, who was new, and made her extremely wary. I tried to reassure her that both grumble-bums were more bark than bite, but...well, they do sound scary when they're hissing and growling, but they're not small cats, to be fair. However, I got told off by Mum the other night for calling them both basketballs on legs, so let's not go there.

Evie is much better behaved if we take her to the vet rather than have the vet come to the house. She hunches up and is as quiet as a mouse, whereas if the vet comes to the house to see the furry horde, Evie is like a feral. So from now on, off to the vet for her vaccinations!

Mind you, she had a total panic attack in her cage in the driveway while Mum and I were loading the other three cats into the car. Total spazz-out. Then she and Lacey cried ALL THE WAY THERE.
Theo and Lily just stayed silent.

Today we took Polly, Abby and the dog, Leo. So Leo BARKED ALL THE WAY THERE. According to Mum, my suggestion of leaving him at the vet was not going to be taken. And here I was, ears ringing as I got out of the car, just trying to be helpful.

Fleur is the only cat waiting to be vaccinated, but as she's currently on medication, she has to wait until she's completely better, so one more trip to make in the near future.

Now Friday, on my day off when I normally don't surface before eight thirty (what? I hate getting up early when the mornings are chilly!), I HAVE to get up early and take Leo to the vet to have his teeth cleaned. Then take myself to the chiropractor. Cheers for us both!

So that's my life at the moment - furries furries furries!
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Published on May 13, 2015 02:52 Tags: cats, dog, reading, vets

April 21, 2015

Editing Stages - YES!

OMG - I can't believe it! I didn't kill Simon off the face of the pages - he's made it!

Yep, I'm in the editing process now. So that means his story is finally done!

YES! (Because we all know how hard he's been for me. Everyone's heard me whining)

So anyway, thought you might like a peek at his cover and the blurb - it's up on my website if you want to check it out! Sometimes that photo was all that got me through *wink*

Hope to have the excerpt up soon. Release date is scheduled for the 31st May. It'll also be available for pre-order very soon.

Whoo hoo!!!!
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Published on April 21, 2015 06:32 Tags: book-cover, editing, pre-order-soon, simon

March 21, 2015

Planes and Chundering and The Great Pill Debacle

This is the current entry on my wordpress blog, but for anyone who doesn't want to go there (it's fine, no worries!) here is a copy of part of the blog - about my problems at the airport and my travel sickness. Yes, I know, like EVERYONE wants to know about that! But it was a lesson learned!

Before I start, I had a wonderful time, heard some great speakers, and met up with some of my friends - Jess Dee (who writes erotic romance - check out her books if you haven't already!), Lucy (who runs a book shop), Rosalie - so many others. I even met friends I knew on-line but not face-to-face, so that was wonderful!

Now onwards to what happened to me *sniffle*...

******
So, last weekend I went to the Australian Romance Readers Convention in Canberra. It was totally awesome!!!!! Met writers, readers, and a host of wonderful volunteers who had the convention up and running so wonderfully. Thank you all!

So, before I talk about The Great Pill Debacle, let’s all start with my fear of flying - mainly that the freakin’ plane will fall out of the sky. My second biggest thing is that I get travel sick - plane, car, bus, doesn’t matter. The only travel I can do without barfing is if I’m driving (and I can’t, you know, drive the plane or bus), so I prefer to drive. Unfortunately, driving the plane was out of the question (BTW, did you know romance author Helene Young pilots a plane?? I knew Susan Grant did, but this makes 2 female authors piloting planes for their ‘day job’. How cool is that?)

Anyway, I forgot to pack travel pills, so I was, understandably, basically crapping my daks that I’d chunder during the flight. But no, all went well from Geraldton to Perth to Melbourne. Then along came the final leg of the journey to Canberra. I’m sitting at the BACK of the friggin’ plane (can you believe it? THE BACK?) and this lovely lady is sitting beside me. I’m going okay - you know, eyes closed, telling myself to breath, it was nearly all over. Then this lovely lady starts to chat to me, and crikey moses, it was Allie Sinclair, fellow author and ARRC attendee! So we chatted and marvelled at the coincidence…and then we hit turbulence.

OMG, I thought my stomach was going to erupt out my mouth. I could feel the heaving of both my gut and the plane, and I’m pretty sure I left my finger marks in the arm-rests of the seat.

I’m not sure what Allie thought - one minute I’m chatting away, the next I’m going rather quiet. This was actually due to me having my lips clamped shut (some workmates would think that was a miracle on its own). I’m positive I went either grey or green - not too sure which - but Allie was just too polite to point that out.

Obviously my Guardian Angel was on my side (or scared I’d chunder over him), because we made it to the tarmac without me hurling over everyone in the plane. I know, you think that’s an exaggeration, but have you ever heard of projectile vomiting? Just think me in the back of a plane plus turbulence and you’ll get the idea.

Allie apparently didn’t take offence at my sudden silence (if you’re reading this Allie, please know I wasn’t suddenly being a stuck up cow, I was just trying not to christen you with digestive juices!! I know, it’s actually rather noble of me…) and we shared a taxi to the hotel.

So this all sounds great. It WAS great. Then I had a taxi driver that thought using his mobile phone one-handed while operating the steering wheel with the other hand was a good idea. I don’t know about his brake systems, but my feet put a hole through his floorboards as I was doing some braking of my own.

To be fair, the other taxi drivers were great - both hands on the wheel at all times!

The weekend was totally awesome, as I said. I also had the presence of mind to buy some travel sick pills from the chemist before heading back in the wide blue yonder. And this leads to:

The Great Pill Debacle!

I read the instructions while sitting at the airport - take 30 minutes before boarding the plane. 30 minutes? Are you kidding me? I have to pee before I board the pane, as I hate using the toilets there (besides, everyone watches you go to the loo door and they KNOW what you’re going to do!), so I decide to take two tablets an hour and a half before the plane takes off. This way I have plenty of time to empty the old bladder at least three times. Man, I am like a dog with a fire hydrant and it’s all my mother’s fault (I tell her this). When we were little, every time we found a toilet she made us go in case there were no other toilets around. Now every time I spot a loo, I have to go. Even if it is 2 drops. Because I’m telling you, if you don’t do those two drops it will be Niagara Falls by the time you sit in the plane and fasten your seat belt. Trust me.

So I take the two pills and kick back to read (I’m a couple of hours early). After awhile I notice that I’m getting really tired. Like, I’m getting REALLY tired. My eyes start to cross and I swear, my right eyelid was almost shut, the left halfway there.

I’m thinking - WTHell? I can hardly keep my eyes open. I drag my eyelids up, peer groggily around, and notice that the floor is starting to lift just a little. A sudden brainwave slugs through my head and I pull the box out, squint tiredly at it and - holy crap! It states ‘THIS TABLET MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS’. You THINK? You freakin’ THINK? It’s not MAY, it HAS! No wonder I can hardly stay awake - I’ve doped myself!!!!!!

If this wasn’t bad enough I suddenly realise how thirsty I am. My mouth is dry, my tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth, and I want to drink the river. But I don’t dare to drink too much, because then I’ll need to pee and I refuse to pee on the plane!

So I decide that the best thing to do would be to get up and walk - walk to the loo, walk around. Good plan. God knows how I managed it. I got up, wheeled across the corridor, tried to walk a straight line, and had my head cocked on one side because the freakin’ floor was on an angle. I kid you not, I couldn’t see straight! Staggered down the corridor, wheeled into the toilet block, fell into a cubicle and flopped onto a seat. I don’t know how I managed to stay awake, but I dragged the wet wipes from my bag and scrubbed my face, trying to refresh myself.

Did it work? Seriously? For me? SERIOUSLY?

So I wavered my way back out of the loo (remembering to take a tinkle beforehand), washed my hands, wheeled out of the toilet block and staggered back to my chair. I’m lucky I didn’t fall a**e over t*t as I negotiated the heaving floor.

So, eyeballs practically hanging out of my head, bags under my eyes so big they almost sat on the floor beside my carry-on luggage, and tongue as dry as the Sahara Desert, I waited for the freakin’ flight to be called.

Two cops walked past, and hey, I’m all about a man in uniform. Normally the idea of a pat down to search me for illicit goods would have been fodder for my books (and fuel for my imagination), but right then I thought if they tried, I’d fall at their feet and start snoring and that, folks, would not have been cool. Needless to say, they didn’t notice me sitting in the chair, eyelids drooping, tongue lolling out… As soon as I got on that damned plane, I buckled the seatbelt and shut my eyes. Oh, thank God!!!!! SNOOZEFEST!!!!!

Coincidences being coincidences, at the Perth airport, ready to take the last leg home, I met my boss and the theatre manager also waiting for the plane. Thank God I was recovered by then, because I’m not sure what they would have thought of me staggering around, tongue hanging out, gasping for water and complaining about the upheaval of the floor. And further coincidence, the lady sitting beside me was a midwife from the other hospital in my town!!!! So we had a good gab fest on the way home.
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Published on March 21, 2015 01:26 Tags: air-travel, arra-convention, humiliation-riters, medication, readers, witers

March 2, 2015

Canberra - romance convention!

So thought I'd let you all know that from the 4th to the 9th March, I won't be here (well, at home!). I'm attending the Australian Romance Readers Convention in Canberra - it'll be fun, I'll get homesick, and I don't travel that well either (if this plane falls out the frickin' sky, I will be so mad!). So don't get offended if I don't answer messages - I will check them all when I get back! I am one of those who:

1. Doesn't have a mobile phone
2. Doesn't take a laptop on trips
3. oh, that's it.

I do take a notepad and pen though, for ideas ;-)

On the bright side, I have just finished chapter 2 of Simon's story, about to start chapter 3. Or I will start chapter 3 tomorrow before I go if I have time, otherwise I'm leaving Simon hanging around, looking a little silly, until I get back - WHICH SERVES HIM FREAKIN' RIGHT FOR MAKING IT SO HARD FOR ME TO START HIS STORY!

*smoothing back hair, taking deep breath* soooo...all's good. Looking forward to visiting you all again when I get home! Stay safe, read on!
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Published on March 02, 2015 23:36 Tags: away, back-mon-9th-march, convention, simon

February 6, 2015

Simon....oh God, Simon...

So I started Simon's story. And have restarted it several times over. Three pages...over and over...

Give me a freakin' break. He was supposed to be the easy one. THE EASY ONE! I can't get the beginning just right, just won't work...I've almost pounded the keyboard into the floor in frustration.

Really, the first chapter should be done, but is it? No. NO! Simon has featured on all three pages and been deleted several times already. He's just freakin' lucky he doesn't get deleted altogether. If he wasn't such a nice man, he'd be history.

Cripes, I needed to get this off my chest...really... I'm so close to just turning off the computer, grabbing an icy pole (hot day) and flopping on the sofa to watch the last three episodes of Penny Dreadful, but no, my conscious won't let me. I HAVE to get past these three pages and get a decent start.

Oh geez... *pound*pound*pound* there's the fingers on the keyboard...
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Published on February 06, 2015 23:41 Tags: first-chapter, frustration, simon

January 17, 2015

Lie to Me Giveaway

Hi all

not sure how you're notified of giveaways, I'm still learning the whole process myself! But to give you a heads up - a print copy of Lie to Me is up for giveaway! Entries finish on the 1st Feb.

Here's the link if you want to enter:
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/en...

good luck!
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Published on January 17, 2015 19:09 Tags: entry-link, giveaway, lie-to-me

January 1, 2015

Lie to Me - blurb, excerpt & Cover!

Okay, I just uploaded the cover, blurb and an excerpt of Lie to Me, which is Ryder and Dee's story, on my website. Hope you like it!

I've set the official release date as 1st Feb 2015. It'll be available for pre-order soon.

I'm also looking into doing a giveaway, but I have to wait until the print version comes back to me so I can do a proof read and then submit for the final version, THEN I'll do a giveaway!'

It never ends LOL.

Now, to be a huge tease, I've already done Simon's cover, but it's not being revealed until his book goes on pre-order, which means I can drool over it in secret for awhile longer *heh*heh*
The man is hot!
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Published on January 01, 2015 05:46 Tags: blurb, book-cover, excerpt, gully-s-fall, lie-to-me, release-date, ryder-dee

December 30, 2014

Book's Coming Along - almost done!

So I can't believe I'm nearing the end of the story and Ryder is still breathing. Not to mention Dee. Geez, I never realized what a complete dick Ryder is, but you know, he's kind of - no, he's NOT sweet, but he does have a good side. I think. Maybe. Possibly not...

Dee is...well...she's...she's still a ball buster. But she has a soft side, and that kind of helps, except she won't take crap from people and can even be a little...um...harsh? Sweet, no. Soft side...a little. Okay, possibly not...

Oh bummer, maybe I need to do a re-write already!!!! Now I'm second-guessing this couple. THEY ARE KILLING ME!!!!

On the plus side, a little something from Simon has been briefly revealed that I never planned...didn't actually even know myself until it came out in one sentence and I'm thinking - whoa. Really? So that should prove interesting.

As for the furries...well...heh heh...

So I hope to finish it tonight, then do a re-read for plot holes, then format and edit, then another read, and it's all looking good for an early Feb release!!! Unless Ryder and Dee twist me so much in the re-read that I end up having to re-write part of the book.

OMG, I don't even want to think about it...
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Published on December 30, 2014 01:35 Tags: almost-done, gully-s-fall-bk-3, ryder-dee, simon

December 23, 2014

Merry Christmas!

May Christmas be full of happiness, and the New Year full of blessings!!

Travel safely if you're traveling, and have a great day at home if you're staying home!

I was supposed to be working Christmas morning, but as it's so quiet at work, I got Christmas Day off! (Unless the wheels fall off at work then it's all systems go). So I'm home for Christmas!

If you've got pets, remember them this year. Keep them in if it's cold, in if it's hot, lavish them with love. An animal's love is unconditional.

Merry Christmas everyone!
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Published on December 23, 2014 03:20 Tags: merry-christmas