J.J. Devine's Blog, page 39
January 20, 2017
Last day of my ten day stretch...
Good morning, everyone!!!Well it's the last day of my ten day work stretch. I'm looking forward to the next couple of days off :) Of course they won't be spent lounging around, but they will be days off nonetheless :)
I do really enjoy my day job. Don't think for one moment I don't. I like the people I work with. I like the job itself. I like the fact that I can stay busy throughout my entire shift. I also enjoy the customers who come into our store each day. I like best the small town feel we have going on in our establishment, there is nothing like it.
This weekend I have big plans to begin work on the entry way of my home. The daughter is coming over to help me take the wallpaper down, which shouldn't be an issue seeing as it has been up for so long now that it's not all sticking anymore. I have ideas and big plans for that room seeing as it is the last room I need to paint downstairs :) I enjoy giving my home makeovers. What I like best is seeing as this is an old hundred plus year old home, I like making the inside feel homey and antique :)
Sure the corner where the fridge sits will have to wait until hubby is home this week, but it won't take long to do one corner :)
Yes, even on my days off I make plans. It is just what it is :) I hope all of you have an enjoyable weekend as well :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
January 19, 2017
Two more work days...
Good morning, everyone!!!The next two days is early work days. Then looking forward to the two days off. Days off mean a little more when you haven't had one in awhile :)
I managed to get through all my kinks in my newsletter and sent it out last night. I will start work on the one for February here in a few weeks :) Hopefully I remember all the fixes and will be able to just shoot right through the next one :) If you want to subscribe to my newsletter there are areas on both this blog page and my Author Bio and Release page to sign up. Or you an send a message directly to me at jjdevineauthor@gmail.com
It has been a wonderfully productive week. I've felt energized all week long, which is a plus. I've managed to get everything done around the house and at work I've wanted to accomplish as well as kept up with my writing business aspects. I even managed some down time each day and just let my brain relax. So I am finding some sort of balance in my world :)
The feeling of accomplishment does help the moral a bit. It gives me a sense of completion to each day. It also makes me look forward to the next day and wonder what all I can get done in the future.
Today my work day will start early with the day job, then home to finish up a few things before I hit the writing. I have two stories I want to finish up in the next few weeks, so if I'm going to meet those goals I need to get back at it :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
January 18, 2017
It's hump day...
Good morning, everyone!!!It is mid week already, can you believe it? It is not only mid week but mid month, so we're halfway through the first month of 2017. Time flies for sure.
I'm starting this new year off on the right foot. Keeping my focus. Keep your fingers crossed this continues. My daughter was over last evening and volunteered to help me pull wall paper off the wall in our entry way and get that room painted :) That is my last room downstairs to paint :) I have ideas on what I want it to look like when I'm finished, so hopefully it will all work out :)
I've almost finished up the newsletter. I've already learned a great deal from this experience and looking forward to learning more :) I'm hoping to do my test run on it this evening then get it emailed out to my subscribers.
I'm focusing on writing the rest of the week once this is finished up. I have characters screaming at me and I just need to get back to work on their stories. In fact, a story I haven't even started on is yelling for me to start it, and I keep putting it off. So we'll see who wins out on that battle LOL.
Well I guess since it is an hour before I need to get ready for the day job I should probably finish up my newsletter.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
January 17, 2017
Romance Writers Weekly presents...
Welcome back to Romance Writers Weekly!!!This week S.C. Mitchell scmitchell.wordpress.com/ has asked us to do an interview with one of our characters from our current work in progress or our current release. So today, I thought it would be fun to interview my hero, Jeff Fowler.
J.J. Devine: Welcome to Ramblings of a Writer and Romance Writers Weekly, Jeff. Is it true you and your brothers are werewolves?Jeff: (laughs) You just jump right in there with the difficult questions don't you? Yes, my brothers and I are werewolves, but I would like to add, we are not a part of the pack after Jessie and her coven.
J.J. Devine: Why did you feel it was important to tell us that?
Jeff: Jess has been a part of my life since I was a child. To my brothers she's always been like a sister to them. She cared for our family when our mother died. She looked after us, helped us through some of the most difficult times in our lives. For me, she is the only woman I've ever loved. We would do anything for her, even die if necessary.
J.J. Devine: Don't you think that is being a bit drastic? Dying for someone is usually a figure of speech.
Jeff: Maybe it is a figure of speech in the mortal world. But in our world it is a very real possibility. Jess's ancestors pissed off a wolf pack during the Salem Witch Trials. Casting an unusual spell on the pack. On the night of the full moon is the only night of the month these wolves can walk the earth as humans. It is also the only night of the month they can take human blood. They have it in for Jess and her cousins and my brothers and I will never allow harm to come to her or her coven.
J.J. Devine: I can see by the look in your eye you mean that. Is Jessie really worth such a price?
Jeff: (laughs) You mortals, you think you know the depth of love, but in reality what you know about love only covers the surface of the emotion. When you live in our world the meaning of the word love comes from our entire being, our soul, if you will. As a wolf I mate for life. Jess came into my life as a broken little girl. Our love has stood the test of time and balance. Dying for her if it meant she could go on in this world to fulfill her destiny, is all that matters.
J.J. Devine: So where can we find your story?
Jeff: In Unfinished Business by you :) So please do us a favor and get it out to your readers soon!!!
J.J. Devine: I will, I promise. Thank you, Jeff, for being here today.
Jeff: Anytime!!!
Well that's it for me today...
Let's hop over and see what Leslie Hachtel has to say...lesliehachtelwriter.wordpress.com/
January 16, 2017
A new week begins...
Good morning, everyone!!!Well another week of the new year is off and running. What are your plans for this week? Mine is to get my newsletter out. I am behind now by a day and I don't like that, but I should have planned for the busy weekend I had already scheduled. That's one thing about the day job boss, she makes sure we have our schedules way in advance when possible so we know how to plan. The problem with that is, not her but me. I always think I can do more than I've already scheduled LOL. The wonder woman syndrome LOL.
So this week I'm planning around my schedule to manage to keep life in order. I have two stories screaming at me, plus my newsletter (which will be worked on and hopefully finished up tonight after the day job). So I need to get myself back in service. I've done pretty good at keeping up with the household, even when I didn't want to :) So I'm happy about that for sure. Why keep up with the household you ask? Well, my OCD side drives me insane when there are things to be done and I sit down to work on writing related things. So keeping up with that helps me to just focus on my writing when I sit down to work.
Having moved this cute little desk into my living room has also been a tremendous help. There are just days I don't feel like being anywhere but my living room, we live in a very old house, and the kitchen is super cold in the winter. So the living room is nice and cozy and seeing as I have alone time most of the time, it works out great :)
Well I guess I need to get myself ready to start this day :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
January 13, 2017
Friday the 13th...oh my...
Good evening, everyone!!!I loved days that revolve around superstition :) We're in a full moon phase and Friday the 13th, boy the fun you can have on days like today :)
Thankfully today I was so busy I didn't have time to even worry what would go wrong. In fact, truth be told, I really don't worry over such things as superstition :)
We all have those days where nothing seems to go right. We also have those days where no matter what you do, it is going to be wrong. So just go with the flow on days like today, I say :) Make the most of it :)
So what did I do today? I waited on my customers, who seemed to be having a normal Friday. I put our truck away, which isn't out of the ordinary for a Friday. Checked in and put away all our deliveries with the help of my boss. Nothing out of the ordinary for sure :)
Then after eight hours of being on my feet, sure, why not go shopping with my daughter and grandchildren LOL. Then come home, but away groceries, wash up a few dishes, and finally twelve hours of being on my feet later, I sat down. I'm pretty sure I'm stuck in this chair now because I'm almost certain my legs won't go another inch. It sucks getting old.
I do have to admit though, it can be sorta spooky on days like today, even though I'm not superstitious, it doesn't mean other people aren't. If you believe in things such as bad luck on Friday the 13th, or if a black cat crosses your path, oh you know the superstitions... yeah, things can happen if you look for them. There was a time in my own life where I would have said, "Stay home, lock your doors." Today, I just giggle at my own silliness :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
January 12, 2017
Things are moving right along...
Good morning, everyone!!!To make things easier for you I've added two areas where you can subscribe to my newsletter to my website. Author Bio and Releases page and here on my blog page off to the right.
I'm pretty excited about my up and coming newsletter. I have so many fun things in store for all of you :) There is a section of the newsletter where I will be introducing you to my author friends. Some really fun interviews here :)
My first newsletter is scheduled to come out Sunday January 15th!!! So get signed up to join in the fun :)
I feel pretty good about the progress being made so far this year. I'm telling my procrastination side to sit down and be quiet more often. Which this has been so helpful lately. However, I am also allowing myself to be happy with the progress made each day and not fretting over the things that still need to be done. This is very helpful. When I focus solely on what I haven't done and forget to remind myself what I have accomplished, I tend to get down on myself and nothing gets done because I let that depression take over. Keeping my focus on the positive side of things, well, it allows me to keep pushing the mark forward. Which I like :)
Well it is almost time to head out to the day job so I better sign off of here for today.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
January 11, 2017
Trying to get a jump on the game...
Good morning, everyone!!!I thought I would get a jump start on this day seeing as it is going to be a busy one. Work this afternoon, then a birthday dinner for our oldest after work.
I spent my days off this week getting some things accomplished. I organized all the rooms downstairs (upstairs will wait until I absolutely have to organize it, LOL). Then if that wasn't enough, I made myself keep things up even when I wanted to just kick back and relax. So I guess you could say I'm pretty happy about that :)
Saturday was my monthly writing meeting. Oh my word, it was so energizing, so upbeat, just amazing. I'm so thrilled we're going into this year with such gusto. We've incorportated a few new things. The name of our latest anthology project is The Lake House.
On the way to the meeting one of my writing friends and I saw the prettiest little tiny rainbow. I'm taking this as a good omen for the new year :) Rainbows hold the meanings of prosperity and fresh beginnings. Something that fits so perfectly with the energy I feel for this year.
I really feel charged for a change. Things seem to be falling into place. Something I've planned for, worked for, and hopefully over the next ten days of this day job stretch I will still manage to keep things going forward. Wish me luck!!!
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!!
January 10, 2017
Romance Writers Weekly presents...
I'm back doing the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop. Sorry it's been so long, I guess sometimes we just have to take a few minutes to work out the kinks in life.This week Leslie Hachtel lesliehachtelwriter.wordpress.com/ has asked us to share what we love best about our writing? What we like the least? And what are we doing to fix what we don't like?
What I love best about my writing? I guess you could say I love my characters. I love their personalities, their actions and reactions, everything that makes them up. I love how I can never write fast enough when my characters are in the mood to tell their story.
What I like the least? When I don't have time to write. There is nothing more aggravating to me than to get to the end of a day and I've not written one word. I've had more days like this than good writing days over the course of the last year and I can only say I stay frustrated when this happens. Oh yeah, and editing, I really least like this the most, even though I know it is highly important :)
What am I doing to fix this? I have gone back to setting writing goals each day. I've gotten up a bit earlier on those long work days to get writing in before I head out to the day job. I've gotten back to trying to blog more. Working toward keeping my creative energy foremost in my mind.
Let's hop on over and see what Jenna De Sie has in store for us!!! jennadasie.com/
January 9, 2017
Pumping up for the new year...
Good morning, everyone!!!Well the month has started off okay. I still have some things I need to organize. I've been working on other things I need to get ready for launching. All in all though, things are moving right along for the 2017 new year.
There is so much going on between the new launch of reward cards for my day job. So that has been educating our workers on the new system. Something I will be writing up today and taking up to the store tomorrow for all of them to read :)
My newsletter is coming along. I have some amazing authors to feature over the course of this year. I am going to get back to blogging on a more regular basis. So starting tomorrow I will be back to blogging with the Romance Writers Weekly group :) I'm also working on a monthly blog for my own writing group similar to the RWW group.
I am determined to keep busy this year with all the things I need to do in my entire world. Embrace it all and see where it takes me.
An author friend and I were discussing empaths and introverts and how exhausting it is when we 'people' every day. As writers we're fine in that world. However, we also have to learn and work at coming out of our shells to be a part of the real world that exists outside our comfort zone. Many of us have learned to do this, however, it can be exhausting both physically and mentally for us.
As introverts, we get exhausted communicating a great deal with people. It tires us out. It drains us. We have to find time in our day to reenergize.
As empaths, the emotions of so many come at us from all sides when we have to socialize on a daily basis. It's like living in a bipolar state. Every emotion felt has an effect on us. The key is knowing these are not our emotions but those of the people around us. This may be the key, but despensing these emotions are the issue. They wear you down, suck your life force from you, and you have to regain your normal energy once away from the crowds. This is the hard part.
I'm working this year towards finding a productive way to despense this energy. Find something that works better so I don't lose an entire day to this drain on my system. Once I figure this out, I'm sure I'll be blogging about it :) This is one of my major goals this year.
I love working my day job. I enjoy meeting all the people of our small town. So to continue doing what I enjoy on all levels I have to find a way to master this energy and keep my own creative juices flowing :)
Wintertime is the hardest, because I don't go outside unless I have to. It's cold out there LOL. I am going to incorporate more exercise into my winter months this year, because I believe partly this is a big part of the issue. I need to focus energy into building up a resistence. So that is something I will be adding to my daily routine once I get these other aspects in my surroundings in order.
Everything is one step at a time. The hardest part of this is making myself believe that everything takes time. So don't be so hard on myself when I only get part of what I intended done for the day. As long as I put in what I can each day, I need to be happy with that.
Today, I am in the midst of organizing two rooms, finish getting my statues and books back where they belong, and pushing forward in my writing career. I have two more days off this week and ten days to work before I have another day off, so making the best of these two days off are vital for me. My goal is to have the order I am seeking in line before my next day off. This way that day can be dedicated to only a few household aspects and the rest completely to my writing world. I want to go into February with a system down pat and push the goals I have set for myself :)
Well that's it for me today. If I am going to meet today's goals I need to get busy :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
