J.J. Devine's Blog, page 44

Checking in...

Good evening, everyone!!!

I thought I should do a check in post tonight. We've been super busy this week, between chores around the house, work, and setting up our new camper.

Over the course of all the years hubby and I have been together, 31 years as of July 2, and married 31 years as of August 31st, we've enjoyed camping.

We've gone from camping in a tent, to an old very rustic camper, back to tent camping, then to our 'rust bucket' as the grandson fondly calls her, to purchasing a 2008 pull behind this past week.

This is something hubby and I have wanted to do for quite awhile and opportunity came knocking a few weeks ago to allow us to achieve this dream of ours.

I can't tell you enough to follow your dreams. Sure, it may take years to achieve them but they are well worth the time and trouble to get to them. I once had a dream to become a published author. It took many years and lots of hard work, but I have accomplished this dream and love every part of being an author. I was encourage to take this further and break out into audio book. Now The Cheyenne Bride is in audio and Into the Darkness is in production to become an audio book. Breaking out into the self publishing world is another venture I will be taking solo, not just anthologies, soon.

There is so much in this life we hope for, dream about, long for, and I am here to say you can accomplish anything you set your mind too. Whether it be upgrading over time to the recreation vehicle you're wanting, or going from writer to author. Maybe you have dreams unlike my own. It doesn't matter, with hard work and dedication you can have all you wish.

I should also add here patience is another aspect you will need to learn to have your dreams. Nothing, no matter what popular belief is, happens overnight. Everything you want is within your grasp, you just need to make a plan, make goals, and strive to achieve those goals each and every day.

Nothing in this life is free however, everything you want is within reach, all you have to do is go after it!!!

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Dear Judge Aaron Persky

Dear Judge Aaron Persky,

I wish to say until the Brock Turner case came to light, I have never heard your name before. However, this case has probably brought your name to more conversations than you ever thought was possible and not in the best of light to shine on you as a judge or a person.

I hear so many stories of letters written to you from family and friends and even Brock Turner himself, which you admit played a role in your decision. Well, I decided to write you an open letter on behalf of the young woman. I do not know her name, nor would I post it publically if I did. However, I do know what she will endure for many years to come.

You made a mockery of the term 'rape' by handing down such a sentence. You took pity on a rapist. You showed him mercy. YOU inadvertently raped this poor woman once again.

Yes, no amount of reasoning on your part or the family of Brock Turner will make that last statement untrue. When a woman is violated in such a manner, her attacker steals from her some very important aspects of her being.

Brock Turner stole this woman's trust, her ability to feel safe with intimacy, her innocence which comes in making the decision whether or not to be intimate. He stole from her the life she was on her own path to achieve, because now, her rape will consume her thoughts, the way she looks at the world, and relevantly the way she will look at relationships in the future.

Judge Aaron Persky, by siding with this rapist, you have proven to this woman and others like her, that in your court room there is no feeling for what she has gone through. The humiliation of her attack. The unclean feeling she will inevitably feel after each and every time she has intimate relations for many years to come. You've diminished what has happened to her, and have told the world that what happened to her didn't matter in fact, your sentence and compassion for her rapist, proved you of all people in a position to uphold the law, did not in fact, uphold the law at all.

A victim goes to court to face their attacker, to prove to themselves their attacker will get punished for what they've done. This is step one of the healing process for the victim. When you showed compassion for a man who committed such a horrible crime against another human being, you did not put yourself in a good light. I'm sure you realize this now.

To Brock Turners father. You sicken me. You downplay your son's crime as if he were just a boy being a boy. Oh he had too much to drink. Yeah, well, I am sure others had too much to drink that night too and did not end up in jail for rape. You're outraged at all the media attention this case is getting. Too bad. If your son had not chosen to rape a woman, drinking or not, then he would not be in the media today. If you had taken responsibility as a father, and forced your son to take responsibility for his actions instead of downplaying his crime to him and the world, then maybe this would not be a media sensation right now.

Your son committed a crime. A very lifelong traumatizing crime for his victim. Sure now your son won't have the future you and he had planned for him, but what about his victim's future? Do you not believe her future has been altered by this? You sir, are too arrogant if you believe otherwise.

Your son received a very light sentence for such a horrible act. Do you think this will teach him a lesson? If so, you are gravely mistaken. And sir, plan to bail him out again and again and again. He nor you are thinking of anyone but yourselves in this situation. This is clear from the letters all of you have written in regards to this matter.

To the young woman who has gone through this heartbreaking experience. Please know you can survive this, you can become the person you hoped to be. Please seek counseling, because as a survivor myself I know what counseling can do to help you regain your self-esteem and help you to take ahold of your life once again. Don't get down on yourself when you feel it is taking longer than you think it should to get back on your feet. Time will help you heal. This will change you, but it is up to you how you allow it to change you.

Please know you are not alone in this. Know there are others out there who have experienced similar situations and they are willing to help you.

Lastly, from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry for what you have endured from both Brock and Judge Aaron Persky. You did not deserve this.

Catching up...

Good morning, everyone!!!

Life has met me coming and going but the good news is I am still moving forward in my writing. Into the Darkness is now in production for audio book!!! Let me just say I'm thrilled about that!!! It has been a long time coming, but I do believe the perfect reader has auditioned :)

Since I blogged last I've managed to get my garden planted, helped the daughter get her hedges trimmed (as well as my own hedges are finally trimmed), helped the daughter plant her flowers as well as I've managed to get mine planted :)

My now 10 year old grandson came to me with a problem last week. He says he needs a job. He has never mowed a lawn in his life, but was wanting to go door to door to ask if people would let him mow lawns. Of course, being grandma I offered a solution to his problem and have now offered him and his sister jobs helping grandma out around my house :) So now, each week they will come over, help me with the weeding in the garden, housework, yard work, and yes, grandpa is going to teach Bug how to mow lawns :)

Of course, there will also be fun things while we're doing these little odd jobs. Such as papaw took Bug fishing the other day and he caught his very first catfish :) That was majorly exciting for him :) Garden Weed and I took advantage of their time away and we had a craft day. She was very pleased that grandma noticed how artistic she was :)

I'm starting to feel a bit more confident in my new position. There's still a few things I am learning, but things are going smoother in that area. Thankfully.

My latest WIP is moving right along. It helps so much to work on something that I can just let my imagination go wild on :) I'm hoping after I finish some edits for the anthology to get back to editing on Destiny's Price. I can only handle one editing project at a time to keep my sanity and my writing energy.

Editing is a necessary process of all writing to make the story better. However, by the end of an editing process you are drained of all things writing. At least that is how it was for me. So, now I'm taking a new twist on this and concentrating on one editing project at a time all the while writing another story to keep my writing alive and fresh.

Well that's it for me today. I have to hit the shower and head out to the day job :)

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Enjoying the nice weather...

Good afternoon, everyone!!!

I'm really horrible at keeping up with my blog these days and for that I apologize. Retreat was definitely a energizer for me :) I loved the "Picture says a thousand words" exercise. It really helped push the creative juices forward. I was able to get a fairly good start on a work in progress that I am working on to get my creative juices back in order. I'm really enjoying this story.

Things have been going pretty well these last few weeks. My daughter kept me busy over the weekend instead of me wasting the days after work on binge watching tv :) Each day after I got off work she had something planned for us to do. By 8:30 Sunday night I was pretty worn out for an old lady, however, the end results were fantastic. She helped me get my back porch how I envisioned it for this summer. So since the weekend I've been able to get outside and write and catch up on everything I've needed to catch up on where the computer is concerned.

Windows 10 gave me a little aggravation last week and I lost two whole days of writing work. It did a take over of my computer and one thing it didn't take in was my laptop and Windows 10 are not compatible, so yes, I had to reinstall Windows 7. Let's just say I ended up turning the phone over to my husband when I was on the phone with support. At least it helped us get to a place where we could fix my computer. Other than that they were no help.

I have to say though, the hard work I did over the weekend with the daughter and grandkids did help me get back on track. It burned out of me any and all aggravation which was very helpful, with the bonus of being able to write in nature again as a huge plus :)

For me there is nothing more settling to the soul than being able to enjoy the outside world. I love feeling the breeze as it washes over me while I sit at the computer working. Listening to the birds chatter back and forth with one another. The furbies playing in their pool, chasing each other through the backyard, or just lounging under the shade trees.

Sitting outside, drinking the morning coffee, just waking up to the peace that surrounds me allows it to seep into my soul to put a nice spin on the day ahead. Hearing the neighborhood of our small town wake up as people start their day. This is what makes life special.

This weekend I am hoping to reorganize our backyard fire pit a little. That is if the predicted rain stays away. Next week when hubby's home he will till the garden one more time and I will seed it behind him. Then the entire garden will be ready for the up and coming season :) I put in a few plants already, such as the tomatoes and peppers, but the seeds need sowing and it is definitely past time :) That's one aspect of this time of year I do enjoy. It allows me the peace of just being. Watching something start from nothing and grow to full potential. Just like we as humans are capable of. I've yet to clean out my chest freezer this season, but that too will happen when I make the time. I have no idea what is left in there from last year's crops. I imagine not much :)

Well I better get myself moving. Work at 3 today and a lot left to do before I need to get there :)

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

It's been a while...

Good afternoon, everyone!!!

Yes, it's been awhile since I've blogged and my only excuse is I've been out living life a bit :)

With my new position at work comes longer work weeks and new responsibilities. We've had a lot of things going on and even more things to keep up with this last month. So, yes, I've been socializing more than I would on a normal basis.

This weekend is my writing retreat weekend. Without the youngest son I'm pretty sure this wouldn't be possible. You know I'm a furbie mommy too, so as always I have to keep them in mind before I do anything. So the youngest will be looking after the house, caring for the furbies, and doing all those things I would normally do in my absence :)

I've been looking forward to this retreat for the last year, after enjoying our last retreat so much. I need this reconnection with my writing world and my writing friends. I love the energy that comes from such getaways :)

I finished my anthology story and started on a story that has been haunting me lately. I've also gotten back to Destiny's Price and am hopeful to get that ready for publication in a few months!!! Once my first round of cleaning up is finished I will most likely reveal the beautiful cover Jeana Mann created for me :) I will be discussing with her very soon on making a cover for my story, Unfinished Business, once I have the first draft of this one completed to know whether or not it is a short story or a full length novel :)

Today, besides working my eight hour shift at work I am trying to prepare for my weekend. I have my meditation program written up and ready to print off. I still need to vacuum the house and do the dishes (yuk). Then I need to decide what I'm wearing this weekend and get it packed. I'm just ready for some good hardcore writing :)

I don't believe I've ever looked more forward to a weekend off before :) Maybe when you feel you really need some time away from real life it makes the thought of it even more attractive :)

Well I guess that's all I got for today. Wish me luck for the rest of this week :)

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Checking in...

Good evening, everyone!!!

I finished my training for assistant manager this week. That was some early hours for sure this week, in turn it truly messed up my sleeping/awake times. But it's all good and I'm glad I don't have to go in that early on a regular basis :)

So now it is time to work toward bringing balance back into daily life. The only way for me to do that is to make myself just do it. I still have a few hundred words on Prisoner of the Night. You know the wrap up aspect of the story, which is moving right along, so that makes me happy. It should be finished tomorrow, keeping my fingers crossed.

I took the grandchildren to see The Jungle Book yesterday. I wanted to share this experience with them, seeing as years ago, I too went to the movies and seen The Jungle Book. I wasn't the only grandparent who had this idea either. The entire theater was full of grandparents bringing their grandchildren to see the movie :) Afterwards, we had a nice picnic at the park and they played for a few hours. It was a good time for sure.

I really enjoy spending time with these little people. They bring sunshine to my day for sure. Speaking of sunshine, we've had some of that wonderful weather the last few days and the temps have been very nice. Which of course has made me start wanting to get outdoors more :) So after work tomorrow I plan to get my back porch spring/summer ready so I can do some writing out there :) That is one thing I miss in the winter months, writing outdoors. I enjoy my makeshift office out there so much.

This week shouldn't be too bad. My work schedule is more on the normal side, so my writing schedule should be back on track. Of course hubby is home this week so things still may be a little crazy :) I just have to curb my addiction to ID tv :)

I'm also looking forward to some evening walks now that the nice weather seems to be sticking around for a little bit :) There's nothing more stimulating to the creative mind than a few long walks each week.

Well I better hit the sack if I am going to start this new week on the right foot.

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Checking in...

Good evening, everyone!!!

As you can see The Hope Chest has received a makeover :) It goes so nicely with the cover for Porch Swing coming out this fall. Oh that's right, you haven't seen the Porch Swing cover yet. Well, you'll have to wait a bit longer :) Jeana Mann has been toying with book covers lately and she's even made my Destiny's Price cover which I can't wait to show you ;) You'll have to wait just a little while on that one also, seeing as I am hoping to have that story ready for release in late spring early summer.

Things have been pretty mixed up the last week and next week is looking like much of the same. It's all good though, I am still in training for my new position at work and this calls for a few earlier days. I'm trying my best to stay more on track this week though. I need to keep a firm writing schedule when I'm not working the other job and seeing as I have this house to myself more than I don't it shouldn't be all that hard :)

I've taken the plunge and decided to start working on a few book signings for the year 2017. So, I've officially signed up to do Indies in Indy in July 2017. The upside to this is it will be enough to help me push the mark in my writing world. So I must up my game a bit more, which means more time at the computer and less time watching Netflix ;)

I am looking forward to some warmer weather. I love writing outdoors on my back porch. Hopefully, winter will leave us soon and I can start getting outside a bit more. Every time I think its over here it comes again :( I enjoy all the seasons, but let's just say I'm ready for some nicer weather, camping, and just being in the great outdoors :)

Well morning comes early so I better hit the sack.

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Preparing for my weekend with a cup of java...

Good morning, everyone!!!

After seven days of rising at 5 a.m. guess who had trouble sleeping past 5 a.m. and that was with staying up past midnight writing.

Just a few more pulling things together and my anthology story will be complete. That's on my agenda for this evening after our chapter meeting today :)

Over the next month I will be perfecting a beginners meditation course for retreat next month. I'm thrilled to be sharing this with my fellow authors. To me meditation is a vital tool in writing.

It has been awhile since I've had a full weekend off. So between putting the house back in order and writing I plan to do nothing else this weekend other than today's writing meeting :)

Isn't it nice when you make plans to do nothing other than what you enjoy?

Well I guess I should actually get these agendas printed off and put on some real clothes. I'm pretty sure the ladies at today's meeting would not want me coming in my summer pjs and robe. I could say it's casual day, you think???

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Not as easy as I hoped it would be...

Good morning, everyone!!!

Working two jobs full time is definitely not what I expected. I don't know why, I've spent my life working multiple jobs at once, but I guess its just a sign I am not as young as I used to be.

I'm almost finished with Prisoner of the Night for our Porch Swing anthology which of course was due yesterday. I approved the first draft of the cover for Destiny's Price last evening. Thank you to my wonderful cover artist Jeana Mann who should have been writing but like me, she is also a procrastinator :) I still have the agenda to work up and print off for Saturday as well as grab the total sales for the first anthology for Saturday's meeting.

Thankfully, National paperwork has been sent in and that is off my plate for another year.

I received a promotion at my day job and start training next week to be the second assistant manager. Which means a few mornings each week for a little while my days will start at 4 a.m. So I've been getting my body used to the new sleep schedule this week seeing as I have to be in early every day making it easier to hit the sack early :)

Sadly, my housework skills have slacked a bit this week. I'm just thankful it is only the youngest son, cat, three dogs, and myself who've had to endure this :)

What is the positive to all of this? My creative juices are really starting to come back in full swing. I'm actually excited to get off work at the day job and come home to spend several hours at the keyboard working. I'm also looking forward to my weekend off so I can put in some hard work on edits for Destiny's Price. This month's speaker is discussing formatting for self publishing, something I've been looking forward to all year. My next step into this new world I wish to break into :)

So what I've accomplished so far this year.

A short story almost complete after starting four different stories :)
Destiny's Price now has a cover :)
Our chapter meetings have grown with almost 100% attendance each month :)
I've taken on a new position at work :)
My kitchen and living room are completed other than new floors.
I've learned to make homemade sausage, hamburger, and yes, even dog food for my furbies.

I feel pretty satisfied with the way this year has started off. I can't wait to show off not only my new cover for Destiny's Price, but the make-over cover for The Hope Chest, and the beautiful cover for Porch Swing.

Sure there are some things I've had to chose between over the course of the last three months just to make time for the things I need to complete. But now it doesn't feel so much like giving up, it feels more like putting my priorities in order. I am making good use of my time, which thankfully is now beginning to show production :)

Life may be busy as hell, but it is good. I am thankful every day for those in my life who understand how important making all of this work is to me. I'm driven by a desire to be who I am this year and let the chips fall where they may. I wish to be realistic with myself and I love that realization that I can't be everywhere at all times has finally come to the forefront of my brain.

Life is pretty amazing when mingled all together.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

[image error] Good evening, everyone!!!

This affirmation is above the door going into my entryway. An affirmation I firmly believe in, but also need reminded of it daily.

There is something to be said about filling your surroundings with affirmations that can easily be seen each day. It keeps them foremost in your mind allowing you to remember them just when you need them most.

I've often used mantras to help me set my mind frame for the day. It helps me start the day on the right foot and often times helps me through tough days.

Today, as you might have guessed, I thought I would discuss affirmations.

Affirmations are not only something you agree with, but are verses, sayings, mantras you wish to see yourself live by, or better yet something you wish to apply to your daily life.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."

There is not a one of us out there that doesn't have some sort of thoughts on how the world should be. Sometimes it is not about taking the world by storm, but by taking our view of the world by storm. Changing the way we look at our daily lives changes our outlook on the world around us. By applying to our daily life what changes we wish to see in the world, changes the world around us.

I see people every day who are always looking for something wrong in their environment. You know the ones who have a complaint for everything regardless of the topic. Sometimes just one kind word will change that attitude in another. Other times, well, you just keep smiling, tell them to have a nice day, and hope one day your outlook on life will give them a new viewpoint, or maybe this is their way of being happy, one never knows the life of another.

"You are who you surround yourself with."

This statement is as ever true as any statement has ever been. Surrounding yourself with people who have goals and aspirations for their own lives, gives you incentive to have goals and aspirations for your life. These goals can be as different as night and day between friends, however, it is the attitudes of each that rub off on one another and give you the viewpoint that you can achieve the goals your after.

"In a world where you can be anything, be yourself."

This is one of my favorites. Because frankly, I'm me. Like me, hate me, love me, any which way, I am still me. That is not going to change. If there is anything in this world I could will into my children and grandchildren this would be it. Savor the uniqueness that is as individual to oneself as your fingerprints. Everybody has quirks, learn to embrace them, because these are what make you stand out, make you special in the eyes of those who love you.

"Never sacrifice you for someone else."

This is another very important message. You are you, relish in that. Don't down play who you are, your strengths, your weaknesses, anything about who you are for another. I have so many things I enjoy, but also so many ideas of what I believe in when it comes to family life, work, play. In some cases I've had to change, not to adapt to what others wish me to be, but to grow in my ideas and beliefs of these things. Life is too short not to give your all in those areas of life you wish to succeed in, so don't let someone else cause you to second guess yourself. Don't lower your standards because someone pushes you to, you are doing yourself no favors.

No matter what your affirmations are, cling to them, believe in them, and incorporate them into your daily life. Let them help you grow in the directions you wish to go. Allow them to help you achieve the dreams you have. Give you the courage to be your own person in a world where so many think being different is odd. Life is too short to be anything but who you are designed to be.

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!