M.L. Chesley's Blog, page 16

GTKM: 2...

It's Monday! That means it's another Get To Know Me post. Are you ready?

What is the one thing I will never do again?

Wow. That is a tough one. There are a LOT of things I never want to do again. But as the saying goes, never say never, you know?

Okay, I think I got it. After much deliberation, it would have to be:

I'll never live in Alaska again. Sorry to all my Homer homies! I'll visit, but I won't ever live there again. That was an experience and a half.

I love Alaska, but I don't love the winters. It was much too much for me to handle with my depression. The darkness really does affect you whether or not you buy into that. I know a lot of people utilized the tanning beds to get their daily dose of good sunlight, but if you don't have the money or a gym membership, you're kind of S. O. L.

I'm sort of finding that a lot of the rainy days here in Washington affect me, but no where near what winter in Alaska did to me. And the cost of living... well... that is not a state where you can survive living paycheck to paycheck. A lot of people do it. But it is no fun to run out of wood or fuel oil in the middle of winter. I think we were out of something for just a couple days, but we had electric heaters as back up. Even then, you're gobbling up electricity with those things and if you've got small heaters in a large place, you're still cold!

Okay, enough griping about it. It's in the past and done. So there, that is the one thing I will never do again.

How about you? What is the one thing you will never do again?

The Day Before The Night Before Christmas...

I know, I'm so wordy.

However, do not be offended by my next choice of words:

Happy Holidays!

It's simple. It's generic, but it is getting my point across to all of my many friends, no matter their culture.

And for those who don't celebrate, Happy December 23rd! It's Wednesday!!!

I hope this week finds you all well. I hope you all have a safe holiday, even if you aren't celebrating. Be careful of those who celebrate just a little too much because they have no boundaries. Ha!

Anyway.

I'm hopefully ending this year on a high note and beginning next with an even higher one. I'm ready for this year to be over, but it doesn't mean my typical, average every day issues will just magically disappear. I just hope to be dealing with them better as we get over the very large bump in the road called Christmas.

Things are looking better for us, here. Hubs has a new job starting soon. I'll be getting back to my schooling and hopefully finishing up my trilogy. I'll have book one out in audio shortly, as well. I also have my hands deep into other writing projects, as well as craft ones. We may have a move in our future, but not too far from where we are currently, just closer to my husband's work.

My kids are doing well, as is my grand-kidlet. One is in the medical field as a CNA, getting ready to move up the ladder. The other is currently working on a mechanic's license and already has an electrical one.

Hubs got laid off a few months back, but we've kept afloat, thankfully, due to him working a temp job. Which actually ended up being a dream job of his, but the pay just isn't enough. Things were tight around here, but with the help of one kid, we ended up being okay.

I'm still working my part-time job and doing online schooling. Other than writing and craft stuff, not so much going on.

I wish you all well and safe for the holiday season, as well as all year long. Many blessings!

Getting To Know Me, Week One...

For the sake of making things simple, I will start referring to these posts as GTKM: 1 or 2, etc.

All right, here we go...

Who Knows Me Best?

Hmm... aside from myself. Duh. I would have to say my husband. He's the one who knows me the best out of everyone in my life.

I have best friends I've known since high school. Some I've kept in contact with continuously, others, just reconnecting. The friendships are still solid after all this time and it's fun getting to know them all over again.

Time has changed us all. We're not the same people anymore. They know a good portion about me. They know stuff from my past that my husband wouldn't know. But when it comes down to brass tacks, Hubs wins.

Sure, there are the usual little things that he'll forget, but he's the one who knows exactly what kind of nuts I'm allergic to. He knows that my mood affects my sleep habits really bad.

He also is the only one who knows that either a certain look on my face or tone of my voice means everyone should be ducking for cover, because I'm about to blow up.

He also is the only one who knows how to calm me down. He knows how to make me voice my thoughts and feelings. Something I struggle with, constantly.

I'm a writer. Ask me to write my thoughts and feelings down, don't ask me to speak them.

But he gets me to talk. I can honestly sit there and tell him everything that just pops into my head and know he'll understand and get it. No matter how bad it sounds.

He also knows when I'm having a writing "AHA!!!" moment.

So, yeah. Of all the people in my life, he knows me best. That's how it should be, right?

Who knows you best?

Getting To Know Me...

All right. I'm trying to make an effort here, to get back into blogging.

From this point on, I'll be posting every week a "Getting To Know Me" post.

It'll be fun! I'll even make it interactive. If people comment on the post with questions, I'll include those in my future posts.

I'm working on things. I'm trying to find some writing related stuff as well. I've pulled out posts from my archives before, from waaaaay back when I started this. So maybe I'll re-visit those as well.

This first post will be a general "Get To Know Me".

First and foremost, I'm a geek. I'm a gamer. A lot of you already know that. I'm a nerd to the core and I am proud of it.

I'm that person that has the collection of nerd gear t-shirts. The ones people love to look at, but don't buy because they won't wear it. Including one that says this:


Most people get the reference. Some don't. Some think it's the band.
I also like to live my life by using random, obscure movie quotes and song lyrics. I have a ton of useless trivia in my brain. If I could ever get on a useless trivia game show, I think I'd walk away with a good amount of cash. Psh!
I'm crafty. I can make all kinds of things. If I ever had the cash flow to do everything I know how to do, I bet I could fill an aircraft carrier.
Okay. So there is a little bit. Tune in every week to read more! I look forward to this!

#FREE For Two Days...

Hey everyone!

Just a quick note to let you know that starting today (the 7th) until the 9th, "Veritas, Shadow of the Rose: Book Two" will be free to purchase on Amazon.

This is the book:

This is the link.

Please share with your friends! Let's get the word out!

Now, if you don't have a Kindle, I do have "Veritas" on Smashwords as well. I'll be setting the price to free today (the 7th) until the 9th there, as well.

Here is that link.

I hope you all have a great rest of your week and I'll see you all soon!

There Isn't Much To Say...

I find myself sitting in front of my computer, more often than not, goofing off.

I know, I know, I could be writing a blog post for all you lovely people who haven't given up hope on my getting back into the swing of things.

I just find I don't have much to say. I'm disconnected a bit.

There is so much going on in my life, that I have fallen back into a very old, very bad habit of playing mindless games. It's sort of what keeps me sane.

However, with that being said, it also affects my writing, my crafting and everything else in between.

Writing is the first thing to take a serious hit. So I try very hard to make sure I sit down and write out something on a daily basis. Even if it is complete nonsense. Or even just a sentence or two. At least that way I feel like I'm moving a little closer to a finish line.

School is now taking a serious hit as well, but it has for a while now. Trying to juggle too much, something is bound to suffer. But that is the one thing that I need to buckle down on and get moving. So I have found myself reading back chapters to catch myself up again.

Since the passing of my sweet kitty, I've been a little more down in the dumps than usual. Poor Gir is right there with me. She doesn't know what to do. She keeps calling for him. She sleeps on me most nights. And I mean ON me. She's grieving. She's not eating like she used to and is sleeping a lot more.

Hubs is finally working a full time job again, with another opportunity on the horizon. One we were hesitant to take, yet both of us know if he doesn't, we're sunk. We're stuck in a Catch-22.

I guess I don't blog as much, because I'm afraid of coming on here and whining about problems all the time. I know everyone else out there has their own issues. Everyone has something to worry about. How you handle it tells a lot about you. But if I am building up a reader base for my books, how many of you want to read about how horrible my life is right now?

Okay. Not horrible. Stressful. That is more like it.

So on the other side of that coin, writing is the only real outlet I have. Blogging about stuff going on is therapeutic for me. I may end up doing a private journal so I can be free to blog about book stuff.

I'm trying. I really am. But it's so easy to get caught up in old habits. All I can say, is thank you, to those of you who keep reading this blog and hoping for more.

How do you break out of the doldrums? What bad habits are you constantly trying to break?

Thank You, Osiris...

I'm very sad to say that I've had to put down my best furry friend.

This is about the only place I know of, where I can talk about it like I need to. Want to. Have to. He was so much more than just "my pet cat". Some will understand, others won't, but that's okay.

My husband found him when he was a baby. Still had blue eyes. They had a rat eating insulation at his work, so he was instructed to put up a live trap. The first night, he set it up and the next morning came in to find a orange, spitting ball of fur. That was Osiris. The next day, hubs caught his sister. We didn't keep her for very long. That's another story entirely.

But my husband found him shortly before we started dating. So I knew him when he was a little fluff ball, too.

He was 15 years old when we put him down.

He moved everywhere with us. We moved from Arizona to Alaska, we brought him on the plane and the car trip from Anchorage airport to our new home. Then, when we left Alaska, he went with us, too. He and Gir were in the truck with us. Hubs had built them a special box that was behind the cab, extended out to give them a place to sleep as well as kitty box accessible. When we stopped to eat, drink or rest, they ate and drank, too. Osiris didn't like it much, he stayed in back, complaining the whole way, but he was with us. No matter what. Gir loved the trip, though and because she was there, I think it made him more adventurous at times. He didn't want to be shown up by a girl.

Fifteen years. That is a very, very long time. We loved him, we spoiled him. Just like we spoil Gir.

There were so many times I've been sad, depressed, not wanting to get out of bed and face the world, and he was there with me. Curled up against me, letting me cry into his fur and purring the whole time. He never judged. He knew when I was sad, and would just be near me. When I knew he wasn't doing well, when he was sick, I babied him like he was a kid. He couldn't drink water from the tap, it made him sick. So we bought a filter right away. Near the end, he didn't have the energy to eat the dry food, so we fed him canned. He would just meow when he was hungry, follow us to the kitchen and eat.

He was my best, furry friend. I miss him horribly. Our hearts are broken. Our house is too quiet. Gir keeps calling for him and won't leave my side and curls up next to hubs when he's home. We definitely have a hole in our lives that will take a lot of time to heal. Everyone who met him, liked him right away, even fell in love with him right away. So many people. All it took was one pet of that super soft fur.

All you had to do was look at him and he'd purr, even when he was curled up, asleep on the bed. He gave the best hugs and loved to give you his belly to rub.

I'm going to miss him very, very much.

Fantasy Book Reviewers...

Of course, with Book Two being out now, I find I have more time. That and grandkidlet is in daycare. Hooray!

More time = more posts. I hope!

So back to the topic.

I'm looking for reviewers for book two, Veritas. It is preferable if you have read book one, Adversarius. It's sort of a pre-requisite.

With that being said, if you would like to review book two, but have not read book one, I'll happily supply it.

In the past, I have asked for reviews and have offered up the book for free. I'm still willing to do that. I don't mind. But if you're just looking for a free e-book, hey, I don't mind that either. If you are truly interested in my books and don't have pocket change to buy a ton of e-books, please contact me. I am not looking to get rich, here. I've had this story in my head for well over 20 years now. (20 years!!!) I want to share it with everyone.

You're talking to a person who subscribes to BookBub to find the free deals. I have a whole series of books waiting to be read because I'm only missing one or two. If I find a series I REALLY like, I try to reach out and find out if someone can lend it to me.

I'm not a penny-pincher. Okay, well, I am. I honestly just don't have cash to throw out to get books I want to read. People don't understand that my family lives paycheck to paycheck. One bad week of sickness, we're pretty much S. o. L.

I truly understand those who can't afford books. Again, drop me a private message, we'll work something out.

Again. Back to the topic.

In the meantime, if you are honestly willing to do a review, please leave me a comment and I'll get you a copy of either book two or both of the books to get you up to speed. But PLEASE leave a REVIEW! Okay. Thanks. You can go about your business now.

Have an awesome rest of your week, everyone!

*****

Contact me: Paridzule (dot) keep (at) gmail (dot) com.

This Is It...

Hooray!

::Throws confetti::

I know my "slap-you-upside-the-head-with-a-brand-new-book" marketing strategy needs some work, but I am an instant gratification girl. It took every ounce of patience I had to work on polishing up book two for release!! I deserve a freaking medal.

But that is not what this post is about. Today, I am pleased to announce that Book Two, Veritas, is LIVE!

The post you saw earlier today was written late last night as I worked hard to get it up and out there.

So far, the book is available at the links below:

Kobo     Scribd     Inkterra     Amazon     iTunes/iBooks
It will be coming soon to Barnes and Noble for the Nook. I went with a different site, other than Smashwords, this time around. Draft2Digital sends it off to many other places. Of course, I posted it on Amazon as well for the Kindle.

Please, share the links. Many people have been anxiously awaiting book two and I'm happy to finally have it out!

Plus, you get two posts from me in one day.

Huzzah!

The Sword of Damocles...

I know you have all heard the mythological story of the Sword of Damocles.

If not, here it is in a nutshell:

Sword hanging over a man's head by a very thin strand. One tiny jolt and POW! Dead.

Yep, you know it.

I had my very own SoD hanging over my head this past month.

I missed my own, personal deadline for Book Two of my trilogy, Veritas.

However...

I just hit the button. I just submitted it online and should all go well, it will be available within 72 hours. Give or take a few as I am writing this late at night.


I have so much going on right now. Online classes, part-time retail work, babysitting a two year old, editing for one project and helping another writing project get off the ground... I know, I'm a glutton for punishment.

OH! And I've been listening to the audio files for the audiobook of Adversarius! It is amazing! And I cannot wait to share it all with you when it is done.




All right. I will be back soon with links to Book Two. And after I've had plenty of coffee. Mmmm...coffee....