Cherie Colyer's Blog, page 30

Inspiration Behind Damned When I Didn't

Romance is all about relationships: the good, the bad, and the awkward, and there is no one more awkward than an eighteen-year-old virgin thrown into the life of a succubus. And that’s exactly what happens to my kind-hearted protagonist Avery Williams in Damned When I Didn’t.
 
Now, for those who don’t know, a succubus is a female demon who survives by having intimate relationships with humans. Normally, the steamier the better. But we have to cut Avery some slack. She is a teenager, and this is a young adult novel. Luckily, a long, meaningful kiss will sustain her for a few days. She’s paired with Cole, her Hell-assigned mentor, who must get her to ditch her mild manners, or they’ll both face Hell’s wrath.
 
I had a lot of fun writing this novel. The premise blossomed from my desire to write something that hasn’t been done already, which isn’t easy when there are so many amazing paranormal books. Well, I’ve never read or seen a YA book where the protagonist is a succubus. And then I thought, wouldn’t it be ironic if the succubus in my book was a virgin? How would that work? Why Hell? And how did she end up a succubus? Could she survive? Would she want to?

Discover the answer to these questions and more in the book. 

Rivals by Jennifer Lane Cover Reveal

Rivalsby Jennifer LaneRelease: March 19, 2021Genre: Sports RomanceCover Design: Dan Irons, Designs by Irons



Blurb:
“I embrace my rival. But only to strangle him.”~Jean Racine
After landing her dream job as head volleyball coach at Ohio State University, Lauren Chase’s career has become a nightmare. Her only hope of saving her job is to recruit a star player to her team. Too bad the player’s twin has signed a football scholarship for OSU’s chief rival, Michigan. And too bad Michigan coach, Jeremy Trent, sends sparks through Lauren every time they cross paths. But no way will she pursue an attraction to a man who represents the university she hates.
Jeremy detests his boss, and he hopes that signing the nation’s #1 recruit is the ticket he needs to become a head coach himself one day. Lauren Chase is already a head coach, and Jeremy has to admit that she intrigues the hell out of him. He wants to know why her performance has tanked after winning a national championship. He wants to see beneath Lauren’s fast pace and dirty mouth. But he can’t get with a Buckeye, right?
Maybe rivals don’t have to remain enemies. Maybe they can learn to appreciate their opponent’s strengths. And, if they’re lucky—if they excel at the game—maybe rivals can bring out the very best in each other.
Add to Goodreads
PreOrder Links (Kindle Unlimited):Amazon US     Amazon CA     Amazon UK     Amazon AU


Author Bio:

Psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane invites you to her world of sports romance and romantic suspense with a psychological twist!

Jen fell in love with sports at a young age and competed in swimming and volleyball in college. She went on to become the Honda Award Winner for Division III Athlete of the Year. She still gets high from the smell of chlorine and the satisfaction of smashing a beautiful volleyball set.

Jen’s latest novel is Rivals, a romance between coaches from rival universities. Her Blocked trilogy also explores the transformation from hate to love. Particularly in this time of division, Jen’s favorite theme is finding common ground.

A romantic suspense trilogy (The Conduct Series) and a psychological thriller (Twin Sacrifice) complete Jen’s collection of stories. She calls Ohio home and shares writing space with her two trusted feline collaborators: Tuxedo and Tessa.

Whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time, she likes to exercise and visit her amazing sisters in Chicago and Hilton Head.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://jenniferlanebooks.com

Twitter: JenLaneBooks

Facebook: Jennifer Lane, Author Jennifer Lane

Goodreads: Jennifer Lane

Pinterest: JenLaneBooks

Instagram: JenLaneBooks

Canopy Book Tour & Giveaway

 

Canopy Book Tour! Feb. 1-5
Canopy 
by: D.M. Darroch 
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction

See the girl in the trees. Catch her if you can.

Summary: Several centuries ago, a group of ecologists escaped the breakdown of a society ravaged by climate change by vanishing into giant, genetically engineered forests in the North American west. Dwelling among vast canopies that hover several thousand feet above the earth, their descendants fear the cannibals roaming far beneath them and cling to the teachings of their sacred text, The Book of Silvanus. 
Sixteen year-old Ostrya considers it a burden to train as the canopy’s next doctor. But her life’s work has been preordained—and she’s desperate to reclaim her mother’s love. When a cataclysmic storm wracks the canopy, Ostrya begins to face her doubts about the teachings of the book and the laws of the canopy. If she is to survive, she will have to decide if her destiny is in the treetops or on the forest floor…

Buy Links: 

Amazon     B & N     Apple Books   

Rakuten/Kobo     Angus & Robertson     Thalia     bol.de   

Indigo    Mondadori

Author Interview
Q: What genre do you most like to read?

A: I tend to cycle through genres. If I enjoy an author’s work, I’ll read everything in their back list I can get my hands on, regardless of genre. And when I’m really feeling a genre, I’ll go on a complete binge. Lately I’ve been bingeing dystopian YA novels, hmmm, wonder why that is? I love speculative fiction, science fiction that stays on this planet, near future stories, Black Mirror-type fiction. I read a ton of mysteries, cozy and not-so-cozy. Crime thrillers and lots of literary fiction. I adore clever middle-grade stories. Anything that keeps me guessing, makes me think or makes me laugh, and if there is a twist at the end, that’s the best!

Q: What are some of your non-writing hobbies?

A: Gardening! My hands and knees in the dirt, coaxing something to grow. Fruits, flowers, vegetables, trees, vines, shrubs—I’m not picky. Fiber! I enjoy weaving rugs on my floor loom and fussy things on my table loom when I’m not knitting something or other. Hiking! The fresh air, the trees, the mountains, waterfalls. I’m happiest when I’m outdoors. Baking! Crusty, warm sourdough loaves are my favorite things to bake.

Q: Can you tell us about your book?

A: My series, Silvanus Saga, is about life on Earth hundreds of years from today. It tells an imagined future that results from the decisions we make today—specifically those that affect the climate. Canopy, the first book in the series, tells one piece of that story. One group of humans has taken to the trees, gigantic genetically-modified trees that can sustain gardens and dwellings—an entire society. Ostrya, a teen coming of age in the treetops, is struggling to reconcile her individual hopes and dreams with the expectations of her community. Our circumstances have changed, but hundreds of years from now mothers and daughters still loveeach other while they’re fighting, people still fall in love, and teens still find their own way in life.

Q: Does your book’s title have special meaning?

A: The canopy or the treetops are fascinating, alive places. Scientists estimate that worldwide, forest canopies support 50% of the life on this planet. And rainforest canopies support 60%-90% of life, both plant and animal. The treetops feed, clothe, and shelter Ostrya’s community. There was no question that the title of this book had to be Canopy.

Q: Where did you get the initial idea for this book?

A: Several years ago, I was researching a mystery novel I had planned to write. And no, I haven’t written it yet, but I still plan to. As part of that research, I picked up a nonfiction book by Robert Preston called The Wild Trees, about a group of tree scientists and their work in the forest canopies of California, Oregon, and Australia. Unable to put the book down, I wondered what it would be like to build a world in the treetops, how big the trees would have to be to


sustain humans over the long term, what would have caused humans to leave the ground, and on and on. My mind was off and running—so many what-ifs to explore.

Q: What was the most challenging aspect of writing this book?

A: The climate science. This isn’t a cli-fi novel, not a story written in the middle of a climate change event, but the science needed to make sense. Temperature, clothing, which plants would grow and which wouldn’t. There were a lot of unknowns because no human has lived in a world like the one I envisioned in Canopy, but the science had to be plausible and consistent.

Q: What was your favorite scene to write?

A: I love writing adventure scenes, so probably the first time Ostrya climbs to the very top of the canopy, tries to find a crossing over the abyss, and slips! I also enjoyed writing the flirty scenes between Ostrya and her crush—a different kind of adventure.

Q: Who is your favorite character in this book?
A: Mangrove, though Ostrya is a close second.
Q: Give us a sneak peek of what you’re writing next!
A: Right now, I’m working on the second book in the series, tentatively titled Boneyard.


Canopy Book Tour Giveaway Contest!

Giveaway Prizes: 

Grand Prize: Hammock! (US and Canada)

First Prize: $30 Amazon Gift Card! (International)

Second Prize: Hand-signed copy of paperback (US and Canada) 

Third Prize: Ebook (International) 

To enter, please visit: 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...?  
(Giveaway runs Feb 1-19, 2021) 

Author Bio:

D.M. Darroch is the author of the Inventor-in-Training series as well as other speculative fiction stories. Her books weave together nature and science with adventure and often a touch of humor. Danelle lives in Washington State, USA and enjoys long walks in the forest. Her website is: https://www.dmdarroch.com.

Website: https://www.dmdarroch.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6977871.D_M_Darroch

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/D-M-Darroch/e/B00B4IKK5C/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

Tour created by YA Bound Book Tours 

Eat Your Heart Out Cover Reveal

Hi, everyone!
Please help me welcome Shirly Goldberg as she shares details on her upcoming book Eat Your Heart Out. 


Yup, it’s a Cover Reveal!

I’m so thrilled to show off my new cover for Eat Your Heart Out, the second book in the series Starting Over.

Two foodies, Dana and Alex, banter, sauté and tiptoe around each other. Except for the occasional smooch. What’s with that?

I’m sharing more of Eat Your Heart Out’s details on my blog. Read the blurb and click this link https://midagedating.com/ to read an excerpt. Too soon for links, but I’m looking for ARC readers, so please keep in touch. Publication date coming soon!

Thanks to Debbie Taylor for her cover and the team at The Wild Rose Press for all their hard work!

      Shirley


Blurb
When a tyrant in stilettos replaces her beloved boss, and her ex snags her coveted job, teacher Dana Narvana discovers there are worse things than getting dumped on Facebook. Time for the BFF advice squad, starting with Dana's staunchest ally, Alex—hunky colleague, quipster, and cooking pal extraordinaire. But when the after-hours smooching goes nowhere, she wonders why this grown man won't make up his mind.
Alex Bethany's new lifestyle gives him the confidence to try online dating. What he craves is a family of his own until a life-altering surprise rocks his world. He knows he's sending Dana mixed messages. Alex panics when he thinks he's blown his chance with his special person. From appetizers to the main course will these two cooking buddies make it to dessert?
Funny and bittersweet, Dana and Alex's story will have you rooting for them.

Click here to read an excerpt. 

Forgiven by Garrett Leigh Book Blitz & Giveaway

Forgiven
Garrett Leigh
(Forgiven, #1)
Published by: Carina Press (HQN)
Publication date: January 25th 2021
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

High school sweethearts Mia and Luke get a second chance at love in this brand-new contemporary romance from award-winning author Garrett Leigh.

When Mia Amour returns to England to open a florist shop, all she wants to do is put her lousy ex behind her and never look back. But getting a fresh start is easier said than done when her first love, the boy who once broke her teenage heart, strolls back into her life. He’s every bit as sexy as she remembers, and the urge to melt back into his arms almost makes her forget how devastated she was when he took off without a word. Almost.

Left with no choice, Luke Daley did what he had to do, leaving town to earn enough money to save his broken family, though it just about broke him, too. But now he’s back, running his uncle’s business and trying desperately to forget about Mia, the girl he left behind all those years ago. When he runs into her in town, the shock of seeing her again brings an intense rush of emotions: love, guilt…and an overwhelming urge to find out if it’s still as amazing between them as it used to be.

It doesn’t take either of them long to give in to desire and discover the fiery passion they once shared burns hotter than ever. With each new touch, each moment of forgiveness, old hurts heal and the future they’d hoped for ten years ago becomes possible again. But their fragile connection is tested by a threat neither of them saw coming—a threat that could end their second chance before it even gets started.

Forgiven

Book 1: Forgiven

Book 2: Unforgotten

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

Luke

I was playing darts with some dude-bro of my dad’s when Gus walked in. An automatic grin spread across my face, but he wasn’t alone. Mia flitted in behind him and went straight to the bar without looking my way.

Gus shrugged and followed her.

It stung. I had plenty of old schoolmates knocking around Rushmere, but Gus got me. His easy company had made the transition to civilian life seem almost normal. Perhaps I’d become too reliant on him. Too demanding, and Mia was right. He was her brother, not mine.

I turned my back on them and focussed on flinging darts at the board. My aim had always been good, and I won several times over, but still the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and no matter how much I drank, my skin tingled with her imagined gaze all over me—imagined, because I reckoned I still knew her well enough to be certain she was stubbornly refusing to face me.

Calling time on my darts marathon, I drained my drink, bid my opponents goodbye, and left the pub without glancing in the direction I’d last seen Gus and Mia. It was a mile walk back to my house, but I was glad of it; at least I would be come the morning.

I fished my phone from my pocket and checked that my alarm was set, even though military life had left me incapable of sleeping more than four hours at a time. An Instagram notification from my brother caught my attention. I swiped it and immediately wished I hadn’t. Wasted and trashing whatever shithole town he lived in now, treating them to the same havoc he’d wrecked my mum’s life with after our dad died. Not that I could judge him right now for being wasted, but I’d go home, fall asleep in my own bed, and wake up in time to keep my life moving forward, even if I had no idea where I wanted it to go. Billy was destructive to himself and everyone around him. I loved him, but sometimes I just couldn’t fucking look at him.

A muttered curse behind me spun me around.

Mia glared at me. “For God’s sake. Is there nowhere in this town I can go without you loitering around the corner?”

The absurdity of it was so unfair I just stared.

She stepped closer, her face pretty much twisted in the kind of half snarl that had made me so fucking hard in the past.

Would make me hard now if I let it.

If I let her.

I swallowed thickly. We’d been in the same room all night, and yet somehow the sight of her in front of me seemed brand new. “I’m going home.”

“Yeah. I figured that when you left the pub ten minutes ago.”

She didn’t move. Neither did I, and I cursed myself for not going straight home. The rare glimpses of her were bad enough, but these face-to-face staredowns clawed at my insides. I had stubborn feet, a steady gaze, and hands that never faltered, but with Mia so close a gust of wind would blow her hair into my face, everything trembled.

I inhaled fresh air, hoping it would clear my mind. It didn’t. “Whatever. I’m going home now.”

“Uh-huh.”

Still I didn’t move. I glanced over Mia’s shoulder at the pub. “Where’s Gus?”

“Talking to some bloke from Grindr, I’d imagine. He left with a spring in his step.”

“He left you there by yourself?”

“No, he just left like an adult, because I’m old enough to make the three-hundred-metre walk on my own.”

Mia started to step around me. In a fit of nonsensical recklessness, I grabbed her arm, then braced myself for the inevitable answering shove.

But she didn’t shove me. She stared, apparently transfixed by my fingers circling her slim wrist, and did nothing at all.

Reeling, I let her go. “Sorry.”

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why are you sorry?”

Perhaps she was drunk too, and heat swam in my veins. Getting lit with Mia had always been awesome. Back in the day, I’d lie back and let her take whatever she wanted from me, but that wasn’t the picture dancing through my beer-addled brain right now. I wanted to grip her again, spin her around, and pin her against the wall. She’d never let me dominate her—I’d never wanted to—but fuck if it wasn’t an image I couldn’t shake.

I shook my head. “I’m sorry I bothered you.”

It was my turn to move past her, and her turn to stop me in my tracks with a strong grip. “Luke.”

“What?” I spun around to face her again, my shout ringing out in the quiet pub car park, the vehemence in it surprising me as much as Mia. “What?” I tried again, softer this time, but no less desperate. “You don’t want to talk to me, I get it, okay? So leave me the fuck alone, and I’ll do the same for you.”

“I never asked you to leave me alone.”

Our eyes met and held on for the first time since our chip shop reunion two weeks ago. I fell down the rabbit hole of those fucking stormy blues, and as the seconds ticked by, so did my resolve to walk away.

Author Bio:

Bonus Material available for all books on Garrett's Patreon account. Includes short stories from Misfits, Slide, Strays, What Remains, Dream, and much more. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/garrettleigh

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer, cover artist, and book designer. Her debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards, and was again a finalist in 2017 with Rented Heart.

In 2017, she won the EPIC award in contemporary romance with her military novel, Between Ghosts, and the contemporary romance category in the Bisexual Book Awards with her novel What Remains.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.

Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with photographer Dan Burgess.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

Damned When I Didn't - Book Tour & Giveaway

 
I'm super excited about this month-long tour hosted by Silver Dagger Book Tours, and I hope you will follow along to read excerpts and guest posts from yours truly. 
I huge thank you to Silver Dagger Book Tours for putting the tour together and to all the wonderful bloggers who are participating. Please be sure to leave a message here or on their blogs to let them know you stopped by. And don't forget to enter the giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading! Cherie


Damned When I Didn'tby Cherie ColyerGenre: YA Paranormal Romance

Death isn't the end for eighteen-year-old Avery Williams, and her final resting place isn't beyond the Golden Gates. No, the Queen of the Damned has plans for her and, unbeknownst to Avery, fought hard to gain possession of her soul.As Hell's newest succubus, Avery is expected to siphon life from the living. It only takes a long, meaningful kiss, but for a virgin like Avery, kissing guys she barely knows isn't something she's comfortable doing. Avery focuses on the upside of her fate—she'll be returning home, or so she thinks. When the Queen of the Damned cuts her off from her old life, Avery is determined to find a way back to her family and friends, even if it means facing Hell's fury if she's caught.

Add to Goodreads Amazon* Apple* B&N* Google* Kobo



Cherie Colyer is best known for her young adult, paranormal romance thrillers, including the Embrace series (featuring witchcraft) and Challenging Destiny (a story about outsmarting heaven and hell.) She usually has several book projects in the works. She enjoys helping budding writers improve their craft and learn more about the publishing industry. Cherie lives in Illinois with her family. She happily visits schools and libraries and is a member of SCBWI (Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators).

Website* Facebook* Twitter * Instagram* Bookbub* Amazon* Goodreads



Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

In the Penalty Box Blog Tour

Hi, everyone!
This week, I'm celebrating Lynn Rush and Kelly Anne Blount's new release, In the Penalty Box. Learn more below!


Blog Tour! 

The Cutting Edge  meets Friday Night Lights in a sizzling new hockey romance from bestselling authors Kelly Anne Blount and Lynn Rush!

In the Penalty Box 
by Lynn Rush and Kelly Anne Blount  
Genre: YA Contemporary 
Release Date: January 5, 2021
Entangled Teen 

Summary: 

Willow: Figure skating was supposed to be my whole world. But one unlucky injury and now I’m down...but I’m definitely not out. I just need to rehab—a boatload of rehab—and who’d have thought I could do it on the boys’ hockey team? Of course, the infuriatingly hot captain of the team seems to think I’m nothing but sequins and twirls. What’s a girl to do but put him in his place? Game on.

 

Brodie:  Hockey is my whole world. I’ve worked my tail off getting my team in a position to win the championships—hopefully in front of major college scouts, too—so what’s a guy to do when a figure skater ends up as our new goalie? Of course, the distractingly sexy skater thinks I’m nothing but a testosterone-laced competitive streak. And surely she’s only biding her time to heal, then she’s gone. Game over.

Universal Buy Link

Amazon      B&N      iTunes      Kobo      Indigo      GooglePlay

Thalia      bol.de      Angus & Robertson      Mondadori

INSPIRATION BEHIND WRITING THIS BOOK AND YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS: 

Welcome to the IN THE PENALTY BOX release festivities! I’m so excited to be here today and grateful for the chance to talk to you about the sweet YA romance novel I co-wrote with Kelly Anne Blount! We love blog tours! Have you been hitting all the tour stops? Be sure to, because there are lots of fun prizes to try for and adventures to be had. 

Lynn Rush here. In case you don’t know me, I’m one of the writers of IN THE PENALTY BOX. Kelly Anne and I met through our agent, Nicole, at The Seymour Agency. We clicked right away and one day, Kelly said, “Hey, we should write a book together.” 

I was all about that. I really enjoyed Kelly’s writing and her personality. She’s pretty freaking awesome, so yeah, I agreed right away. Kelly and I had been involved in high school and college sports, so it felt pretty natural to go that route with a book we would write together. 

Normally I’m a seat of the pants type writer, but when we started planning out what we might write about, it was evident we’d need to do some plotting, so that was a fun experience. Now I kind of like plotting books out. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the rush of staring at a blank word document with no idea what I’m going to write out. I don’t think I’ll ever lose that, but I’ll keep that more to what I write on my own. 

Since the first trilogy I’d ever released was written from the male point of view, first person, it seemed fitting that I write that POV in our novel. And since Kelly enjoyed writing the female point of view, we had a starting point to get our first novel up and running. 

While I normally write demons, vampires and scientifically modified humans, we decided this one would be a small town, contemporary high school sports romance. And no, the star hockey player couldn’t be a vampire.  :) 

We went on to write over 100,000 words in about four months. The story just seemed to flow. Oh, and it was so much fun. I love writing, absolutely love getting lost in different worlds, so this was just plain awesome. 

Writing Brodie, a kid who seemingly has it all: he’s good looking, has amazing hockey talent, and is rich...he was really fun to write. Even though making him a vampire wasn’t an option, I enjoyed creating and delving into his family dynamics and the dysfunction of it. Showing his vulnerabilities along with his fears, strengths, and convictions. 

One thing about Brodie that inspired me was his loyalty. To his friend Preach and his other, more difficult to love friend, Pax. The brotherhood and commitment to his family of hockey players...it makes me smile.  

I hope you find Brodie as intriguing as I did, and I thank you all so much for your support and your participation in the IN THE PENALTY BOX release festivities. 

Thank you again for having me and featuring IN THE PENALTY BOX!  

Much love, 

Lynn Rush

About the Authors:

 

Lynn Rush: New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author, Lynn Rush, is a full-time writer, wife, and trail runner living in the Sonoran Desert, despite her fear of rattle snakes. Known as #TheRunningWriter, Lynn can’t resist posting epic sunrise pictures while running in the desert with her trail sisters, even if she has to occasionally hop a scorpion.

When she’s not running or writing, she’s watching movies that fuel her everlasting love of superheroes, vampires, and all things Supernatural. The books she reads usually carry the same theme, but this former college athlete loves reading sweet sports romances as well.

She’s madly in love with her Ironman husband of 20+ years who is the inspiration for what true love is. You can find her on social media as @LynnRushWrites and her website is: www.lynnrush.com 
WebsiteTwitterGoodreads

Kelly Anne Blount: USA Today Bestselling author and Wattpad Star Kelly Anne Blount has more than seventy-three-thousand followers on social media. Her Wattpad stories have been read more than twenty-million times. She’s contributed to Tap, Wattpad’s new app for chat-style stories, where her work has been “tapped” more than fifty-million times. She is a writer and reviewer for SpoilerTV, which has allowed her to develop an incredible network of film and TV stars.

Two of her Wattpad works, including Captured (seventeen-million reads), have been optioned for film by Komixx Entertainment, and she is regularly invited to present seminars about social media at author events.

Stop by any of Kelly’s social-media platforms (@KellyAnneBlount) and stay tuned to this website for announcements and information about upcoming releases and events.

Kelly Anne Blount is represented by Jennifer Wills (jennifer@theseymouragency.com) and Nicole Resciniti (nicole@theseymouragency.com) of The Seymour Agency.

Website
Twitter
Goodreads

Book Tour Created by YA Bound Book Tours 

My 20-21 New Year Goals

I'm setting twenty goals for 2021. 

1. Continue to be the courteous, kind, and self-respecting person I want to be. I think I have done well with this over the years, but it never hurts to add it to the list.

2. Strive to be positive, even when things appear bleak. This used to come naturally for me, but events of the past years have made it more of a challenge than I'd like it to be.

3. Focus on the things I can control. One could go mad focusing on the things she can't.
4. Practice zen... I'm really bad at thinking about nothing. But I've heard that clearing the mind can improve physical and mental health. 
5. Perform a random act of kindness every week. 
6. Go on more long walks.
7. Drive somewhere special specifically to watch the sunrise.
8. Drive somewhere else special specifically to watch the sunset.
9. Visit somewhere new every month.
10. Share an Instagram photo every week. By the end of the year, I'll have my 2021 story documented in photos.

11. Provide weekly updates about my writing on my author Facebook page. 

12. Blog at least once a month, and visit others' blogs.

13. Improve my D2 skills for my day job. Those I work with will understand this one.

14. Finish the sequel to Damned When I Didn't's first draft. Then finish revisions and submit the story to my publisher.

15. Find a home for at least one of my middle-grade novels. I have a couple I'm rather fond of and am excited to share with readers. 
16. Excercise five days a week.

17. Eat healthily. 
18. Paint the bedroom. (I had to slip in one home-improvement goal.)

19. Plant more flowers. 
20. Be the best person I can be. 

What are your goals?

Thanks for stopping by. I hope something on my list inspires your 2021 goals. 
Cherie

Welcome to 2021

Welcome to 2021!
I hope it's an amazing year for you!
I also hope you had a wonderful holiday season. 2020 was a difficult year with many challenges, and my heart goes out to all those who have been affected. May the worst be behind us and the vaccines prove effective. As the fight against covid rages on, please continue to practice social distancing. Your health is important.

Warm wishes for a safe, healthy, and magical 2021.

All my best, Cherie 

Going on tour

Hi! I'm glad you stopped by!

      Avery and her friends will be touring the blog-o-sphere in 2021. (Wow, feels a bit weird--and good--to be so close to a new year!) The tour is a month-long event. I'd be honored if you joined the fun. Learn more at Silver Dagger Tours.

Stay safe!

      Cherie