S.A. Jones's Blog, page 5
August 3, 2013
RRP: Guest Post from Jude Ouvrard
Today Jude Ouvrard is joining us with a special guest post! The question that was posed to her as a prompt was:
What inspired you to write? Was there anything in particular that sparked Under the Sun?
Everything inspires me to write. Music, life, my son and events of my personal life. I have many stories in my head, it never stops. They are always there in my mind. When I drive, when I try to sleep, It just never stops.
What inspired me to write Under the Sun... When I was young, I used to spend my summer vacations in Wells Beach, Maine with my brother and parents. I loved it. There are pieces from my life in the story. My parents were renting a cabin and we would spend the day at the beach and visit the area at night. It is a beautiful place and the locals are charming. I have so many good memories of that moment in my life, I hope I will have the opportunity to go back someday and share new memories with my son.
Also, some of the names represent important people from my life. I like to pay them tribute, in a way. The love story was really fun to write. I like to be in control of their emotions, their words. I get to create their world and I think it is the fun part in writing a book. I love reading and writing romance. As long as there is a love story, I'm good to go.
Jackson and Tracey are both strong characters and they are both inspiring. I hope you will enjoy reading about them.
~Jude Ouvrard
~*~
Under the Sun by Jude Ouvrard
Tracey Howard has put her life on hold for years to care for her grandmother. Now that her grandmother is
gone, Tracey decides to spend summer at the beach and reflect on where she wants life to take her next. Jackson Phillips is her new neighbor, and he dazzles her from the first moment they meet. Will Jackson be able to show Tracey how to let go of old pain and embrace future happiness?
~*~
About Jude Ouvrard
Jude lives in Montreal, Canada. She is the proud mother of a beautiful four year old son, and has spent the last twelve years with her partner, Cedric. French is her native language, but she prefers to write in her second language, English. Besides working full time for a title insurance company and being a mother, Jude has a passion for books, both reading and writing them.
~*~
Find Jude Ouvrard
Facebook (Page)
Facebook (Profile)
Twitter @authorjude_o
Twitter @JudeOuvrard
Website
Goodreads
About.me
Facebook Group
~*~
Next Tour Stop August 5th, 2013: Brandy Dorsh, Promo & ExcerptPrevious Tour Stop August 1st, 2013: Jody Joy, Promo & Excerpt
What inspired you to write? Was there anything in particular that sparked Under the Sun?
Everything inspires me to write. Music, life, my son and events of my personal life. I have many stories in my head, it never stops. They are always there in my mind. When I drive, when I try to sleep, It just never stops.
What inspired me to write Under the Sun... When I was young, I used to spend my summer vacations in Wells Beach, Maine with my brother and parents. I loved it. There are pieces from my life in the story. My parents were renting a cabin and we would spend the day at the beach and visit the area at night. It is a beautiful place and the locals are charming. I have so many good memories of that moment in my life, I hope I will have the opportunity to go back someday and share new memories with my son.
Also, some of the names represent important people from my life. I like to pay them tribute, in a way. The love story was really fun to write. I like to be in control of their emotions, their words. I get to create their world and I think it is the fun part in writing a book. I love reading and writing romance. As long as there is a love story, I'm good to go.
Jackson and Tracey are both strong characters and they are both inspiring. I hope you will enjoy reading about them.
~Jude Ouvrard
~*~
Under the Sun by Jude Ouvrard
Tracey Howard has put her life on hold for years to care for her grandmother. Now that her grandmother is
gone, Tracey decides to spend summer at the beach and reflect on where she wants life to take her next. Jackson Phillips is her new neighbor, and he dazzles her from the first moment they meet. Will Jackson be able to show Tracey how to let go of old pain and embrace future happiness?
~*~
About Jude Ouvrard
Jude lives in Montreal, Canada. She is the proud mother of a beautiful four year old son, and has spent the last twelve years with her partner, Cedric. French is her native language, but she prefers to write in her second language, English. Besides working full time for a title insurance company and being a mother, Jude has a passion for books, both reading and writing them.
~*~
Find Jude Ouvrard
Facebook (Page)
Facebook (Profile)
Twitter @authorjude_o
Twitter @JudeOuvrard
Website
Goodreads
About.me
Facebook Group
~*~
Next Tour Stop August 5th, 2013: Brandy Dorsh, Promo & ExcerptPrevious Tour Stop August 1st, 2013: Jody Joy, Promo & Excerpt
August 1, 2013
Cover Reveal: A Tattered Love
Today I'm helping out author Nickie Seidler as she shares the cover for her upcoming release, A Tattered Love! A Tattered Love will be available for purchase on October 3rd, 2013! Mark your calendars, it sounds like it's going to be a good one!
A Tattered Love by Nickie Seidler
Riley Miller wants nothing more than to leave her past behind and never speak of it again. The damage of what’s happened has made her build walls to keep people out. Starting over isn't easy. After a move to Cape Cod to escape the dark and haunting secrets, she meets Abby and Evan, who instantly become her best friends. Riley is shy and quiet, trying to break out of her shell with her friend’s help. Just when life settles into a comfortable routine, Riley meets Evan's friend Dustin and life as she knows it will never be the same. Looking for love is the last thing on Dustin’s to do list, if it’s even on there at all. Living with some pretty big secrets of his own, Dustin tries to keep from getting in too deep with anyone. But, he finds himself drawn to the timid but stunning Riley. Can they accept the past and develop a relationship? Or will the skeletons in their closet keep them from ever moving on?
A Tattered Love by Nickie Seidler
Riley Miller wants nothing more than to leave her past behind and never speak of it again. The damage of what’s happened has made her build walls to keep people out. Starting over isn't easy. After a move to Cape Cod to escape the dark and haunting secrets, she meets Abby and Evan, who instantly become her best friends. Riley is shy and quiet, trying to break out of her shell with her friend’s help. Just when life settles into a comfortable routine, Riley meets Evan's friend Dustin and life as she knows it will never be the same. Looking for love is the last thing on Dustin’s to do list, if it’s even on there at all. Living with some pretty big secrets of his own, Dustin tries to keep from getting in too deep with anyone. But, he finds himself drawn to the timid but stunning Riley. Can they accept the past and develop a relationship? Or will the skeletons in their closet keep them from ever moving on?
July 31, 2013
Landslide by N.J. Cole : Cover Reveal & Excerpt
Today I'm participating in the blog tour for Landslide by N.J. Cole! You'll remember Ms. Cole from the last time she was here with an interview, as well as my having reviewed her Midnight Caller. Landslide promises to be every bit as good!
As a special treat, Ms. Cole has been gracious enough to give me an excerpt to share with all of you!
Enjoy!
~*~
An Excerpt from Landslide by N.J. Cole
Opening the door to the suite, I found a beautiful creature in my bed with the hottest body I’d ever seen. She was wearing white thigh highs, a short plaid skirt, and a white top. It was a classic school girl outfit and I loved it. Everything about her was perfect, but everything about her was wrong.
“Mackenzie! What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m giving you your birthday present, Senator Joseph.”
The way she said my name made my dick rock hard again.
“Mackenzie, this is completely inappropriate.”
“Who gives a fuck if it’s appropriate or not,” she said, rubbing her thighs together. “And I know you want me. I saw how you were looking at me earlier. I even know what you’re into.”
My stomach dropped. Could she mean she knew about my sexual preferences? “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, I know. I overheard my father talking once.” She got off the bed and walked over to me, her eyes never leaving mine as she crossed the room. She grabbed hold of my tie and began running her fingers over it. “I know exactly what you are into, Senator Joseph.”
“Mackenzie, you’re what…sixteen years old?” I questioned, grabbing her wrist and removing her hand from my tie.
“Sixteen? You sent me a graduation present last year,” she laughed. “I’m nineteen. My birthday was just last week.”
She was legal. I’m sure she said more, but all I heard was that she was nineteen. I had also caught something else she said a moment ago. She’d mentioned that she knew what I was “into,” and I needed to know what she meant.
“What is it you think I’m into?” I asked with more authority than I felt at that moment.
“You like to tie up little girls and fuck them. Isn’t that right, Senator?”
Her words made my dick twitch. The summary wasn’t exactly accurate; I didn’t like actual little girls, just women in their early twenties who were willing to dress up for my fantasies. What I gathered from her statement, though, was that she wasn’t repulsed; she sounded excited at the thought.
There were a million reasons I shouldn’t do this. She was barely legal. She was the daughter of my top advisor…and best friend. I wasn’t prepared. We didn’t have any sort of contract. I had no clue what her limits were. It just seemed wrong, yet all of that flew out the window when she looked up at me and licked her lips.
“Don’t you wanna tie me up and fuck me, Senator Joseph?”
Consequences be damned. I wasn’t thinking with my head, I was thinking with my dick. And my dick wanted her. “On your knees, little girl,” I commanded harshly.
She dropped to the floor instantly; when she did, I walked around her and pulled her hands behind her back. “So you want to be tied up? To offer yourself to me? To please me?”
“Yes,” she panted.
“Yes, what?” I asked, removing my tie.
“Yes, Sir,” she moaned.
“Yes, Daddy,” I corrected.
“Yes, Daddy.”
A Blurb About Landslide by N.J. Cole
Senator Maxwell Joseph has it all--money, power and good looks--the trifecta when it comes to attracting the ladies. He even has women willing to be tied up, spanked and fucked all while calling him Daddy, fulfilling his secret fantasy. On the night of his thirty-fifth birthday he finds a goddess waiting for him in his hotel room. She is beautiful, sexy and very willing, yet the fruit she offers is very forbidden. Not only at nineteen is she barely legal, but she is the daughter of his best friend and political adviser.
Mackenzie Wade has had a crush on the senator for years, and when an overheard phone call affords her the opportunity she needs to make her fantasies a reality, she jumps on the chance offering herself as a birthday gift.
Throwing caution to the wind, Max gives in to temptation and gives them both what they have been yearning for --a night filled with ropes, floggers and toe-curling sex. Although satiated, one night of passion wasn't enough for either of them, and they began a clandestine affair.
The solid ground on which he'd built his career now began to shift as his wants and dreams for the future began to change. In what he can only describe as a landslide, Max holds on tight to the only thing that he can, Kenzie, and goes on the ride of his life, knowing all along that in the end, he may have to make a choice between the woman of his fantasies and his career.
Uhm, I must say, I'm more excited about this than I was for Midnight Caller! Tune in on Friday, August 9th, 2013 as I share my review of Landslide! (Hey, gotta give me time to read it!)
~*~
Find N.J. Cole
Goodreads
~*~
Tweet About It
N.J. Cole is at it again! Check out the cover reveal and blurb of her latest: Landslide!
July 29, 2013
RRP: Promo with Jane Reinhart
Are you looking for a great read as summer comes to a close? Check out the latest from Renaissance Romance Publishing: Heat Wave! Featuring debuting Jane Reinhart with Peeking Through Wooden Blinds!
Peeking Through Wooden Blinds by Jane Reinhart
Paige Henderson and Joey Novak are planning their wedding. But a devastating and mysterious phone call leads Paige onto a path of self-destruction and into the arms of the wrong man. Her ensuing marriage to Nick Bruska becomes a nightmare and she struggles to regain self-worth. Joey has never forgotten Paige. Will he ever see her again? Only then could they discover the terrible mistake that changed the course of their lives.
An Excerpt from Peeking Through Wooden Blinds
The invitation list included Bob and Maura, a couple who also grew up with Nick. While Paige was mingling with guests in the living room, Nick and Maura were in the basement playroom watching television. Bob walked downstairs to inform his wife it was time to go. All of a sudden, the irate husband came storming upstairs to confront Paige.
"Do you know what your husband is doing?" Bob screamed.
Paige was dazed and uncertain.
"He is lying on the couch with my wife, and he has his arms wrapped around her!"
While Paige was trying to create a suitable excuse for Nick's behavior, Maura ran upstairs to explain her innocence. After a brief scolding from her husband, she directed her comments to Paige.
"Don't listen to Bob," Maura said. "He has a bad temper. You know Nick and I have been close for a long time, and he wasn't doing anything wrong." Bob and Maura left while the other guests were still trying to close their mouths.
Paige knew Maura spoke the truth. Nick took all aspects of his personality to the limit, especially his affectionate nature, but she gave him an impending warning.
"Nick," she started, "one day your over-friendless is going to get you into a lot of trouble." Nick agreed, but didn't absorb her warning.
Insisting that it was "nice to be nice," the sociable husband assured his wife that he knew where to draw the line. For instance, Nick confessed that, once, when a young woman offered him her phone number after an evening of pinball challenge, he declined and told the girl he was married. With a gallant air, he shared the story now to prove his fidelity. Paige reminded him that if he spent hours cavorting with female competitors, he was already straddling the fence. Furthermore, she argued that women on the prowl always checked a man's hand to see if he was sporting a wedding ring. That was something Nick refused to do; explaining that, since he was a tradesman, wearing one presented the dangerous risk of getting the ring caught in machinery. He added that when he retired, he would wear the band of gold with pride.
Trust regained its stronghold, and another obvious wave of the red flag was ignored.
About Jane Reinhart
Jane Reinhart, author and poet, resides in Westchester County, New York, with her husband and three dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and cooking.
Find Jane Reinhart
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter
Peeking Through Wooden Blinds by Jane Reinhart
Paige Henderson and Joey Novak are planning their wedding. But a devastating and mysterious phone call leads Paige onto a path of self-destruction and into the arms of the wrong man. Her ensuing marriage to Nick Bruska becomes a nightmare and she struggles to regain self-worth. Joey has never forgotten Paige. Will he ever see her again? Only then could they discover the terrible mistake that changed the course of their lives.
An Excerpt from Peeking Through Wooden Blinds
The invitation list included Bob and Maura, a couple who also grew up with Nick. While Paige was mingling with guests in the living room, Nick and Maura were in the basement playroom watching television. Bob walked downstairs to inform his wife it was time to go. All of a sudden, the irate husband came storming upstairs to confront Paige."Do you know what your husband is doing?" Bob screamed.
Paige was dazed and uncertain.
"He is lying on the couch with my wife, and he has his arms wrapped around her!"
While Paige was trying to create a suitable excuse for Nick's behavior, Maura ran upstairs to explain her innocence. After a brief scolding from her husband, she directed her comments to Paige.
"Don't listen to Bob," Maura said. "He has a bad temper. You know Nick and I have been close for a long time, and he wasn't doing anything wrong." Bob and Maura left while the other guests were still trying to close their mouths.
Paige knew Maura spoke the truth. Nick took all aspects of his personality to the limit, especially his affectionate nature, but she gave him an impending warning.
"Nick," she started, "one day your over-friendless is going to get you into a lot of trouble." Nick agreed, but didn't absorb her warning.
Insisting that it was "nice to be nice," the sociable husband assured his wife that he knew where to draw the line. For instance, Nick confessed that, once, when a young woman offered him her phone number after an evening of pinball challenge, he declined and told the girl he was married. With a gallant air, he shared the story now to prove his fidelity. Paige reminded him that if he spent hours cavorting with female competitors, he was already straddling the fence. Furthermore, she argued that women on the prowl always checked a man's hand to see if he was sporting a wedding ring. That was something Nick refused to do; explaining that, since he was a tradesman, wearing one presented the dangerous risk of getting the ring caught in machinery. He added that when he retired, he would wear the band of gold with pride.
Trust regained its stronghold, and another obvious wave of the red flag was ignored.
About Jane Reinhart
Jane Reinhart, author and poet, resides in Westchester County, New York, with her husband and three dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and cooking.Find Jane Reinhart
Goodreads
July 25, 2013
In Case of Biker Gang Attack
It's Thursday. I don't usually post on Thursdays. It just doesn't happen.
But I didn't post on Monday. I was up all night and day editing, which continued into Wednesday.
I didn't post yesterday, either. I was recuperating from being up editing, and doing neglected yardwork and laundry.
But every now and again, in my real life world, there's things I have to share.
A friend, Lyons, was telling me about how she had this dream...
Yeah it was like an epic journey dreamBu the part with you we were in an suv trying to find a safe place for the night because zombies and we went to this hotel that looked abandoned but it wasn't there was a biker gang there
They bashed your head open with a sledgehammer
But instead of blood it was white foam that came out
I then took [Bug] and ran.
Because ZOMBIES. That's why. Things I DIDN'T anticipate saying today:
Well, I'm glad in the event of a zombie apocalypse if my head is bashed in by a biker gang defending their territory you're going to take care of my child.
Sometimes I think my life it terribly boring, and then stuff like that happens. And Gnat walking into my room, nodding his head, and going, "Hey." Then walking off. Like he's not one. And Bug and I earlier:
Me: Okay, Bug, go take your sandwich and go sit down and eat.
Bug: *Picks sandwich up off the plate, and walks over to the table to sit down and eat*
Me: ... The plate, Bug, the plate, too. That'd be cool.
But I didn't post on Monday. I was up all night and day editing, which continued into Wednesday.
I didn't post yesterday, either. I was recuperating from being up editing, and doing neglected yardwork and laundry.
But every now and again, in my real life world, there's things I have to share.
A friend, Lyons, was telling me about how she had this dream...
Yeah it was like an epic journey dreamBu the part with you we were in an suv trying to find a safe place for the night because zombies and we went to this hotel that looked abandoned but it wasn't there was a biker gang there
They bashed your head open with a sledgehammer
But instead of blood it was white foam that came out
I then took [Bug] and ran.
Because ZOMBIES. That's why. Things I DIDN'T anticipate saying today:
Well, I'm glad in the event of a zombie apocalypse if my head is bashed in by a biker gang defending their territory you're going to take care of my child.
Sometimes I think my life it terribly boring, and then stuff like that happens. And Gnat walking into my room, nodding his head, and going, "Hey." Then walking off. Like he's not one. And Bug and I earlier:
Me: Okay, Bug, go take your sandwich and go sit down and eat.
Bug: *Picks sandwich up off the plate, and walks over to the table to sit down and eat*
Me: ... The plate, Bug, the plate, too. That'd be cool.
July 19, 2013
Sharing a Post from R.E. Hargrave: Protecting Your Children
From the desk of . . . R.E. Hargrave: A Moment of Reflection: Protecting Your Children: Good morning all my loyal readers. Today I come to you, not with a post promoting one of my books, or another author's for that matter,...
July 18, 2013
Hot Summer Romance Blog Hop!
Grand Prize #1 is a Kindle Fire.
#2 is a $50 Amazon.come gift certificate.
Grand prize winners will be selected from post comments via random number generation (random.org). In other words, to be eligible to win, you need to leave a comment on this post. Don't forget to include your email so that you can be contacted if you win!
In addition to the hop Grand Prizes, each participating blog (nearly 200 blogs!) will be offering up some kind of prize!I'm offering an e-book copy of my short story, "Love Something Fierce".
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And now, for something I've NEVER done on my blog... I give you, the first smut piece I EVER wrote.(**This piece was originally written on a website called WritersCafe.org under the penname Rena Beau. I use neither of these things now, simply due to lack of time, but I hope you enjoy all the same!)
"Masquerading Mistress"
(September 21st, 2008)
"Excuse me, do you know where I can find a girl named Dmitri?" A rough voice asked from a dark corner of her apartment building. She pulled the hat down over her emerald orbs more, her crimson hair piled under it, her shoulders shrugged forward in hopes of hiding her gender. She shook her head roughly.
"Naw man. Think she wen' out fer the nigh'. She does tha' a lot." She grumbled in the southern drawl she'd acquired from this relatively small town. Speech slurred slightly. She took the headphones and shoved them back into her ears, mumbling to herself.
I smell sex and candy, yeah. . .
The air in her lungs escaped as he shoved her up against the wall, hat falling off her head he grabbed a handful of her hair, jerking it back, her headphones falling out of her ears with the impact.
"What made you think you could hide from me, Dmitri? You know I always find you. You know the scent of you drives me mad." His lips barely centimeters from her ear, words rubbed along her skin like velvet, promises of so many dark things lay within those words. Tempting things, oh so very tempting.
"I. . .I don't know what you mean. . ." She began to stammer, his grip on her hair tightening more.
"Oh, you don't, do you? Let me refresh your memory." With those words her emerald orbs clenched tightly, anticipation consuming her body as she felt the tips of his fangs graze her skin. She let a gasp out.
"No. . .Not here. . ." She managed to get out.
"Where then?" He asked. She reached up to her head, unraveling his hand from her hair, pulling one of his fingers to her lips, tracing it along them before sucking on it seductively. He smirked at her. "Where?" He said, his already deep voice husking over, his eyes misting with the purely male look of desire.
She grabbed his hand, swooping down to get her hat, shoving her hair under it hurriedly as she dragged him towards the stairs leading up to her small apartment. She let go of his hand as they reached the eighth floor, her heart pounding as she fumbled with her keys, his hands trailing along her sides as she nearly fell through the door, pulling him through the door behind her and slamming it closed.
Dmitri began stripping off her clothes as she walked back to her bedroom, stumbling slightly with the alcohol in her system. Her sweatshirt lay across the back of her couch as Nikolas made his way after her. Passing the baggy jeans she'd previously been wearing halfway in her hall and kitchen. A black tank top lay in the hall right before her bedroom, the door was pulled to, and he could hear music humming from within, and her slightly drunken, yet still melodic voice coming from within the room.
Lookin' for love, in all the wrong places, lookin' for love in too many faces. . .
He pushed the door open with the toe of his boot to see her laying across her crimson sheets, her pale body glowing against the comforter, save for the parts where the midnight laced lingere covered.
He stood there for a moment, unbuttoning his black silk shirt slowly, watching her eyes follow his every movement the way a cat follows its prey. He shrugged the shirt from is shoulders, walking to the small desk littered with papers in the corner and laying it neatly across the back of the chair, a small irritated growl coming from the bed behind him. "Nikolas. . ." Her voice was a harsh whisper. He smirked once more as he slid his boots off one at a time, unfastening his belt, followed by the button of his jeans, and the zipper of his jeans, exposing himself all at once as he stripped them down, folding them neatly and placing them on the chair as well.
He walked over to her slowly, leaning over top of her and ripping the lingere from her body in one swift movement, a gasp coming from her as well as she writhed off the bed. In another moment he was on top of her, one hand wrapped around her hair, the other cupping her ass, digging his nails in as he slammed against her. Each thrust causing her to scream out. He pounded harder and harder, her breathing becoming ragged and uneven as she neared climax.
"At the same time." He growled, stopped to flip her over, pulling her up on to all fours, slamming into her once again and dragging his nails down her back, causing her to buck against him. Lines of fresh blood began to appear and he licked his tongue along her back, sending shivers through her body. He reached forward, grabbing her hair and jerking her body up against his, never losing his rhythm as his breathing began to deepen too. His fangs extended as he buried his face into her neck, his nostrils filling with the scent of Autumn, power, and sex.
He felt her body tighten and begin to pulse against him, and he drove his fangs into her trapezius, a scream of exctasy tearing from her body, the scalding liquid of her blood rolling down his throat and her chest as he reached his release as well. He released her neck, sighing heavily as they both collapsed on the bed. She kissed his cheek, rolling to her side, with a mumbled, "See you in a while." He let out a bit of a laugh at her, as he licked the wound from his bite, allowing it to heal instantly.
"Sooner than you know, m'amour. Sooner than you know."
July 17, 2013
New Planner Reveal! [And how it's going!]
I've finally made a new planner template! It was based off of a template I found online, and I created it using Microsoft Word. Usually I would go to Excel for anything involving lines, because I get frustrated fighting with Word, but in order to get the writing and colors I wanted, I had to do it this way. Also, I'm making this an extra-long post to make up for Monday's lack of post.
The planner is a two-page layout, as it's inserted in a binder. The page on the left consists of Sunday-Wednesday, to coordinate with our whiteboard planner. The page on the right (pictured) is Thursday-Saturday, with the fourth column being for any extra notes.
From top to bottom there are actually seven rows. I've only pictured three, because the other four have my young'ns' names on there. The rows, from top to bottom, are: Me, Cowboy, Bug, Gnat, Writing/Editing, Website, Dinner. In all honesty, the order these are listed (with the exception of myself) is about the order that things are handled in our house. My list is easily done throughout the day, Cowboy and I discuss whatever he needs to do in the day when we get up in the morning since he needs to be up so early for work. Bug's older which is why he's next, plus he's my boy who has the most going on. (Hey, five's hard, there's a lot of playing and such to do!) Then Gnat, obviously because I want the family grouped at the top.
Writing/Editing is my schedule as I see fit. I try to make sure I have an equal amount of days for editing as I do writing. Here lately with the launch of Jones E.P.S. editing has taken place far more than writing, but it happens. Website is for anything I'm planning to post here (and eventually when I get the "Mommy blog" up and running once more). Sometimes I have an idea for a blog post, and before I'd write it down on a slip of paper, and the paper would then be lost in the abyss that is our house. That, or the cat would steal it. Dinner is pretty self-explanatory. Lol. I usually make a mass meal list at the beginning of the month, then I sort the meals by type (Beef, Chicken, Fish, Pasta, Veggie), and disperse them throughout the month so that we're not eating chicken three days in a row. (Yes, that's happened.)
All in all, I love this planner design. It works wonderfully for us. With only six lines per row, it makes it nearly impossible to over schedule the family, and if we have another child down the line, the rows are easily amended to include a new member, PLUS it will make it so that less can be scheduled for everyone else, once again going back to keeping us from over scheduling.
Things I want to change about this in the future? I either want to print the ENTIRE thing on prettier paper, OR print it so each row is colored with its coordinating color on the left. (I'm in green, Cowboy's in red, Bug's in a light blue, Gnat's in a dark blue, Writing/Editing is in lavender, Website is in light green, and Dinner is in Orange.) I'd also like a better way of binding it, and to maybe see if a local company can shrink it down so that I can also have a second copy to keep in my purse.
Once I get my author Pinterest up and running, I'll be sharing a template there for this planner. This will be free, and you're more than welcome to print and amend as you will, or use it as a basis for your own stuff. :)
That's how that's going, so yep! Enjoy!! :)
The planner is a two-page layout, as it's inserted in a binder. The page on the left consists of Sunday-Wednesday, to coordinate with our whiteboard planner. The page on the right (pictured) is Thursday-Saturday, with the fourth column being for any extra notes.
From top to bottom there are actually seven rows. I've only pictured three, because the other four have my young'ns' names on there. The rows, from top to bottom, are: Me, Cowboy, Bug, Gnat, Writing/Editing, Website, Dinner. In all honesty, the order these are listed (with the exception of myself) is about the order that things are handled in our house. My list is easily done throughout the day, Cowboy and I discuss whatever he needs to do in the day when we get up in the morning since he needs to be up so early for work. Bug's older which is why he's next, plus he's my boy who has the most going on. (Hey, five's hard, there's a lot of playing and such to do!) Then Gnat, obviously because I want the family grouped at the top.
Writing/Editing is my schedule as I see fit. I try to make sure I have an equal amount of days for editing as I do writing. Here lately with the launch of Jones E.P.S. editing has taken place far more than writing, but it happens. Website is for anything I'm planning to post here (and eventually when I get the "Mommy blog" up and running once more). Sometimes I have an idea for a blog post, and before I'd write it down on a slip of paper, and the paper would then be lost in the abyss that is our house. That, or the cat would steal it. Dinner is pretty self-explanatory. Lol. I usually make a mass meal list at the beginning of the month, then I sort the meals by type (Beef, Chicken, Fish, Pasta, Veggie), and disperse them throughout the month so that we're not eating chicken three days in a row. (Yes, that's happened.)
All in all, I love this planner design. It works wonderfully for us. With only six lines per row, it makes it nearly impossible to over schedule the family, and if we have another child down the line, the rows are easily amended to include a new member, PLUS it will make it so that less can be scheduled for everyone else, once again going back to keeping us from over scheduling.
Things I want to change about this in the future? I either want to print the ENTIRE thing on prettier paper, OR print it so each row is colored with its coordinating color on the left. (I'm in green, Cowboy's in red, Bug's in a light blue, Gnat's in a dark blue, Writing/Editing is in lavender, Website is in light green, and Dinner is in Orange.) I'd also like a better way of binding it, and to maybe see if a local company can shrink it down so that I can also have a second copy to keep in my purse.
Once I get my author Pinterest up and running, I'll be sharing a template there for this planner. This will be free, and you're more than welcome to print and amend as you will, or use it as a basis for your own stuff. :)
That's how that's going, so yep! Enjoy!! :)
July 13, 2013
Review: "Which Exit Angel" by Chris Redding
We've had a very odd summer in my neck of the woods this year, including a lot of rainy days. Rainy days
mean longer naptimes around here, and a perfect opportunity to curl up with a book.
She's an angel who hasn't earned her wings yet. He's a preacher questioning his faith. How are they supposed to stop the impending apocalypse?
"Which Exit Angel" was a perfect book for this. I'm a fairly fast reader, and was able to knock this out in about two hours (once you include stopping to help the eldest child a few times). The book was wonderfully fast-paced, and kept you interested right up until the end. I do feel like it ended a little abruptly, but don't you always with books? It also took a concept I know I've heard of, but never actually seen in action, and that would be a angel as an investigator. There's far more to it than that, but you're going to have to read it yourself. I will say, it's a new take on angels, and I applaud Redding for going out on the edge and pursuing the line of writing!
There is a conflict in the book (not going to give any spoilers!) between the main character and a character we hear about by mostly mentions that I feel like was never quite explained or fully resolved, and that kind of bothered me, but hey, it happens! Redding ended the book well enough that it can be just done, but also left it open enough that a sequel could be a possibility. *For the record, I don't know if there is a sequel in the works, but I wouldn't complain!*
All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon read, especially if you like crime stories.
**Please remember that all reviews on this site are done solely on the basis of story plot and content.**
~*~
About the Author
Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her family. When she isn't writing or teaching workshops, she works part-time for her local hospital.
Find Chris Redding
Website Facebook Twitter
mean longer naptimes around here, and a perfect opportunity to curl up with a book.
She's an angel who hasn't earned her wings yet. He's a preacher questioning his faith. How are they supposed to stop the impending apocalypse?
"Which Exit Angel" was a perfect book for this. I'm a fairly fast reader, and was able to knock this out in about two hours (once you include stopping to help the eldest child a few times). The book was wonderfully fast-paced, and kept you interested right up until the end. I do feel like it ended a little abruptly, but don't you always with books? It also took a concept I know I've heard of, but never actually seen in action, and that would be a angel as an investigator. There's far more to it than that, but you're going to have to read it yourself. I will say, it's a new take on angels, and I applaud Redding for going out on the edge and pursuing the line of writing!There is a conflict in the book (not going to give any spoilers!) between the main character and a character we hear about by mostly mentions that I feel like was never quite explained or fully resolved, and that kind of bothered me, but hey, it happens! Redding ended the book well enough that it can be just done, but also left it open enough that a sequel could be a possibility. *For the record, I don't know if there is a sequel in the works, but I wouldn't complain!*
All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon read, especially if you like crime stories.
**Please remember that all reviews on this site are done solely on the basis of story plot and content.**
~*~
About the Author
Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her family. When she isn't writing or teaching workshops, she works part-time for her local hospital.
Find Chris Redding
Website Facebook Twitter
July 10, 2013
Online Media Platforms and Why We Like 'Em!
Yesterday I posted a question into several of the author groups I'm in, as well as to a few authors of Renaissance Romance Publishing.
Hello there all! I have a question for you!
If you are a fellow writer (published or unpublished does not make a difference) what media platforms do you use, and what do you find the advantages of them to be? I am currently using Blogger which is hosting my main domain, Facebook, Twitter, and Hootsuite as my primaries. I'm wondering if branching out more may be a necessity? Any advice/answers are very much welcomed, and if you don't mind being quote, I will share the responses on my blog tomorrow!
In today's day and age, it's hard to tell what's not enough. Am I missing out by not being on LinkedIn more? Maybe I should tweet more often... Maybe I should tweet less often? Is anyone even reading my tweets? Oh, look, two hits on the blog today, score!
Are you catching my drift? This is some of the stuff that I'm sure goes through your heads as well. Here's what I've discovered though... It seems like there's no such thing as too much. At least not in these times! Here's what some of the responses I've received have looked like:
"Facebook, Wordpress, Twitter, Pinterest, Blogger, Tumblr, Google+, LinkedIn, Dig, Reddit...
Google+ is a lot like Facebook in ways except you can get a wider range of audience and circles for friends. I personally love LinkedIn as well, it is networking, but also job opportunities and group talking (more help than promotional). Pinterest boards readers and followers LOVE to follow your interest and food choices, style, fashion, etc..."
~Rhonda Patton
Pinterest? You mean my readers really want to know all about the crazy fangirling I do and the many pins of "modern Disney Princess fashion"? (Whoops, did I just admit that on here?) The thing is... It seems like they do! Several other people recommended Pinterest as well.
"I hate Google+... It insists on thinking that I am Spanish. :P
I use Facebook, Wordpress, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Smashwords..."
~Anne Selby
What're opinions without a little fun? Lol. Sometimes, the internet can be crazy, it happens. My personal Twitter account thought I wanted to follow cults for the longest time. No idea how that happened, but it definitely freaked me out a bit at first!
"I use Facebook, Blogger, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and probably more I can't think of. Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger are my biggest successes, and Pinterest is up and coming. :)
Oh, and I find Google+ helps more with my mommy blog than with my books, but that is what I started with so maybe I just need to expand."
~J.J. Ellis
This was actually a very helpful post for me. I rarely talk about it, and I don't think I've ever posted it before, but I do have a "mommy blog" (and Twitter). When I started the new posting schedule for this website, I did the same for the mommy blog. My posts for there are meant to be Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I've been extremely focused on promoting myself as an author, though, and launching Jones Editorial and Proofreading Services, so the mommy blog has fallen to the back burner. If you're interested in seeing what an OCD whack-job I really am, though, you can feel free to check it out!The Recipe of Our Lives
Personal Twitter
"Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and I use Wordpress for my site with everything connected from it.
I tried to use Tumblr and StumbledUpon, but I really didn't like them at all. I'm not a fan of Google+, but probably because I never took the time to really learn it. I love Facebook."
~Regina Morris
There's that Pinterest again! I'm loving it! Once I have one linked to my author account, I will share it with all of you. For now, I'm keeping it to myself, lol.
"I'm with www.ipage.com and I build my website with Wordpress."
~Jude Ouvrard
Sometimes we don't have time for all of that, though. Yes, the sites exists, but you don't do anything with them. Sometimes we just need to be quick and to the point.
"Well [my preference] is Twitter and it's linked to my Facebook author page, so it covers two places at once. I also like Blogger and Facebook groups...
I guess Twitter's just quicker and easier, and it links to my Facebook author page."
~Nat Wood
I'd like to point out something else that Nat said in this: Facebook groups. Hence the underline above. If you're not apart of any yet, I HIGHLY recommend you join at least one! There's an amazing amount of support and encouragement to be found from Facebook groups with other authors, as well as many promotional opportunities, blog tours, giveaways, review for review, etc. One of these groups is the Anything Goes Authors Group that was created by Jude Ouvrard. To prove how much support there is: the majority of the responses above came from other members of this group!
Basically, everyone has a preference. Not only does everyone has a preference, but every single one of those preferences reaches a difference audience. Yes, it's hard to try and stay on top of all of those pages, but if you have ten pages and spend half a week focusing on one page at a time, you'll have reached so many more people, who will end up pursuing you through other venues to keep fully up to date, as long as you keep them interested!
Saddle up, folks, you'll be seeing some new links from me in the upcoming weeks. Until then, keep reading, keep writing, keep the fictional characters on the pages alive.
*Your input is encouraged as well! Please, feel free to share in the comments section what your favorite online (heck, even offline!) media platform is, and why you prefer it, or even why you recommend it to others! I can't wait to see what else you have to contribute!*
Camp NaNoWriMo July 2013Day: 9Target Word Count: 75,000Total Words Written: 25,529Words Remaining: 49,471
Hello there all! I have a question for you!
If you are a fellow writer (published or unpublished does not make a difference) what media platforms do you use, and what do you find the advantages of them to be? I am currently using Blogger which is hosting my main domain, Facebook, Twitter, and Hootsuite as my primaries. I'm wondering if branching out more may be a necessity? Any advice/answers are very much welcomed, and if you don't mind being quote, I will share the responses on my blog tomorrow!
In today's day and age, it's hard to tell what's not enough. Am I missing out by not being on LinkedIn more? Maybe I should tweet more often... Maybe I should tweet less often? Is anyone even reading my tweets? Oh, look, two hits on the blog today, score!
Are you catching my drift? This is some of the stuff that I'm sure goes through your heads as well. Here's what I've discovered though... It seems like there's no such thing as too much. At least not in these times! Here's what some of the responses I've received have looked like:
"Facebook, Wordpress, Twitter, Pinterest, Blogger, Tumblr, Google+, LinkedIn, Dig, Reddit...
Google+ is a lot like Facebook in ways except you can get a wider range of audience and circles for friends. I personally love LinkedIn as well, it is networking, but also job opportunities and group talking (more help than promotional). Pinterest boards readers and followers LOVE to follow your interest and food choices, style, fashion, etc..."
~Rhonda Patton
Pinterest? You mean my readers really want to know all about the crazy fangirling I do and the many pins of "modern Disney Princess fashion"? (Whoops, did I just admit that on here?) The thing is... It seems like they do! Several other people recommended Pinterest as well.
"I hate Google+... It insists on thinking that I am Spanish. :P
I use Facebook, Wordpress, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Smashwords..."
~Anne Selby
What're opinions without a little fun? Lol. Sometimes, the internet can be crazy, it happens. My personal Twitter account thought I wanted to follow cults for the longest time. No idea how that happened, but it definitely freaked me out a bit at first!
"I use Facebook, Blogger, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and probably more I can't think of. Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger are my biggest successes, and Pinterest is up and coming. :)
Oh, and I find Google+ helps more with my mommy blog than with my books, but that is what I started with so maybe I just need to expand."
~J.J. Ellis
This was actually a very helpful post for me. I rarely talk about it, and I don't think I've ever posted it before, but I do have a "mommy blog" (and Twitter). When I started the new posting schedule for this website, I did the same for the mommy blog. My posts for there are meant to be Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I've been extremely focused on promoting myself as an author, though, and launching Jones Editorial and Proofreading Services, so the mommy blog has fallen to the back burner. If you're interested in seeing what an OCD whack-job I really am, though, you can feel free to check it out!The Recipe of Our Lives
Personal Twitter
"Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and I use Wordpress for my site with everything connected from it.
I tried to use Tumblr and StumbledUpon, but I really didn't like them at all. I'm not a fan of Google+, but probably because I never took the time to really learn it. I love Facebook."
~Regina Morris
There's that Pinterest again! I'm loving it! Once I have one linked to my author account, I will share it with all of you. For now, I'm keeping it to myself, lol.
"I'm with www.ipage.com and I build my website with Wordpress."
~Jude Ouvrard
Sometimes we don't have time for all of that, though. Yes, the sites exists, but you don't do anything with them. Sometimes we just need to be quick and to the point.
"Well [my preference] is Twitter and it's linked to my Facebook author page, so it covers two places at once. I also like Blogger and Facebook groups...
I guess Twitter's just quicker and easier, and it links to my Facebook author page."
~Nat Wood
I'd like to point out something else that Nat said in this: Facebook groups. Hence the underline above. If you're not apart of any yet, I HIGHLY recommend you join at least one! There's an amazing amount of support and encouragement to be found from Facebook groups with other authors, as well as many promotional opportunities, blog tours, giveaways, review for review, etc. One of these groups is the Anything Goes Authors Group that was created by Jude Ouvrard. To prove how much support there is: the majority of the responses above came from other members of this group!
Basically, everyone has a preference. Not only does everyone has a preference, but every single one of those preferences reaches a difference audience. Yes, it's hard to try and stay on top of all of those pages, but if you have ten pages and spend half a week focusing on one page at a time, you'll have reached so many more people, who will end up pursuing you through other venues to keep fully up to date, as long as you keep them interested!
Saddle up, folks, you'll be seeing some new links from me in the upcoming weeks. Until then, keep reading, keep writing, keep the fictional characters on the pages alive.
*Your input is encouraged as well! Please, feel free to share in the comments section what your favorite online (heck, even offline!) media platform is, and why you prefer it, or even why you recommend it to others! I can't wait to see what else you have to contribute!*
Camp NaNoWriMo July 2013Day: 9Target Word Count: 75,000Total Words Written: 25,529Words Remaining: 49,471
