Cathrina Constantine's Blog, page 31

#CTST

It's that time again to 
Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog
When I hear and read about people, young and old, with severe illness, or, the atrocities happening around the world, I can't complain. I feel blessed!!!

This weekend we're going camping with the entire family. My husbands brothers and their children too. It's a great time. A time to fish, hike, explore, talk, laugh, giggle, and enjoy life!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

#age #writing

~Age and Writing~
I have good days and bad days as a writer. I take into account my age, and, is it worth all the long, arduous time spent in drafting and editing for so little reward. Is it worth the precious time taken from my family?  

As a writer, do you consider age as detrimental? I used to write as a youngster and into my teen years. Then life ignited into a whirlwind romance with my now husband. Between birthing 5 children I did pick up pen and paper, but it was preposterous when I had all these little arms grabbing for me. 

It always amazes me when I read about writer's with full time jobs and raising young children doing well with their books. How do they do it?!

I did a little research on writer's and how old they were when they were published. 

Here's an article about a 93 y/o woman who published her debut novel: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/aug/11/1
11 Authors Who Weren't Published Until After the Age of...
Laura Ingalls Wilder, 65 - She didn't start writing until after she retired. Her first book, Little House in the Big Woods, came out in 1932, and kicked off her Little House series. Little House on the Prairie came out in 1935. Laura Ingalls Wilder died at age 90.Henry Miller, 44 - His first book, Tropic of Cancer, was published when he was 44. Anthony Burgess, 40 - He's most famous for A Clockwork Orange, which came out when he was 45 -- Frank McCourt, 66 - His debut was Angela's Ashes, which came out when he was 66 -- the oldest debut on this list. 
Dead and loving it.Bram Stoker, 50 - Five other interesting Bram Stoker facts. (1) He was Irish. Yes, Dracula was created by an Irishman.George Eliot, 40 - Her name was actually Mary Ann Evans. Her first novel, Adam Bede, came out when she was 40. Alex Haley, 44 - The Autobiography of Malcolm X was published when he was 44, and Rootscame out 11 years later.William S. Burroughs, 40 - He was published for the first time just after he turned 40. Naked Lunch didn't come out until he was 45. Sherwood Anderson, 50 - Were kids who didn't grow up in Ohio required to read Winesburg, Ohio, aka the Canterbury Tales of the northeastern Midwest?Richard Adams, 52 - Adams stormed out of the gate at age 52 with Watership Down. It was an instant classic, won a ton of awards and vaulted him toward the top of the modern author pyramid. O. Henry, 42 - O. Henry (also known as "William Sydney Porter" continues to captivate readers with his clever twist endings. I found the article here:http://www.11points.com/Books/11_Famous_Authors_Who_Werent_Published_Until_After_Age_40

I've come to a conclusion ~ Age Doesn't Matter. 

For neurotic writer's like myself, I'm very thankful for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Join in the monthly posting here: 
http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

#CTST

The weeks seem to be flying faster than normal. It's that time again to 
Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog
Since I'm watching my grand babies 3 days a week, 10 hours a day, I hardly find time to hop around to everyones blogs. But I will try, and I apologize in advance.

I had some negative feed back on the first chapter of my new ms from a beta. She didn't sugar coat her words. I admit, I was weepy. Thoughts of~ I suck as a writer swept around my head like a tornado. (that'd be a good post for the IWSG)
So I reworked it a tad, and had 3 more betas read it, and they came back with positive feedback. Feeling better...I guess.
Looking outside into the sunshine helps very much. To clear my cobwebs I took Murphy for a walk in the woods. Well, I walked, he ran...

 He happened upon the only mudhole!!! And came home a muddy mess. But it sure was fun!!!
Have a pleasant Weekend!

Hot New Release: Cloaked in Blood by T.F. Walsh #paranormal #romance

 Cloaked in BloodThe daughter of a sultan alpha, Selena Kurt agrees to an arranged wulfkin mating to protect her sister from a dangerous alpha from the enemy clan. To her surprise, her match is Marcin Ulf, the next in line for the Hungarian throne . . . and the wulfkin who broke her heart years ago.
Marcin is just as shocked to learn he'll be matched to the enemy's daughter and the woman he's never forgotten. Before they can be paired, however, they're drawn into a tournament where Marcin will compete to free his estranged imprisoned brother, while Selena battles for the life of another wulfkin alpha. Both intend to seize this chance to save those they're fighting for - even if it means facing off with one another just as their romance rekindles.
Will tribe loyalty triumph, or will they realize they're better off as a team before it's too late?
Cloaked in Blood  is the book 3 in the Wulfkin Legacy series, but can be read a stand-alone-book.Grab Your Copy: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Googleplay | iTunesPublisher: Crimson Romance

Wulfkin Legacy SeriesCloaked (prequel to #1) – Out nowCloaked in Fur (Book #1) – Out nowCloaked in Secrecy (Book #2) – Out nowCloaked in Blood (Book #3) – Out nowCloaked in Christmas – End of 2016 TF Walsh Insists It’s All About Size
That’s right. The bigger the wolf pack, the less likely anyone will attack them and the more territory they own.
Plus, wolves are notorious for their hierarchy; the alpha on top, then the beta, the subordinates, and even the omega. But in Cloaked in Blood, the wulfkin structure is layered a bit differently, leading to lots of betrayal and power-hungry alphas. Who doesn’t love drama!!
I stepped between the prisoners and the supposedly greatest leader of Europe. The solid wulfkin sat stiff in his ruling chair, silver strands above his temples giving the impression he had horns. Wouldn’t be far from the truth.
“Is this how you welcome your son back home, with chains and gags? What message are you sending to your packs?”
Father shifted in his seat, tightness capturing his thin lips. “If anyone crosses me— even my own blood—they’ll pay.” CLOAKED IN BLOOD  Now when it comes to specifics in Cloaked in Blood, here is everyone’s role:
Moonwulf – Wolf shifters who will transform from human to wolf form only during the full moon
Wulfkin – Moonwulves who have gone through the Lunar Eutine rite of passage and are now able to change at will into their wolf form
Dracwulf – Unstoppable berserker-like creature that is half wolf, half wulfkin and will kill anything in its path
Lunar Eutine – A rite of passage for a moonwulf to permanently transform into a wulfkin. It takes place beneath a blood moon. Eutine means true of heart and draws on a moonwulf’s connection to his or her inner wolf. When the moon is completely shrouded in black, a new wulfkin will be delivered.
Alpha – The leader of a pack of wulfkin/moonwulves who rules only over his or her claimed territory
Varlac – A reigning wulfkin clan who rule and set laws for all alphas living under their territory jurisdiction (e.g. Europe, Africa, etc.)
Varlac Emperor Alpha – Varlac leader who rules over every alpha and pack in Europe
  Sign up here for T.F. Walsh’s newsletter to keep up to date with latest releases, special offers, and exclusive content.
 About The Author
T.F. Walsh emigrated from Romania to Australia at the age of eight and now lives in a regional city south of Sydney with her husband. Growing up hearing dark fairytales, she's always had a passion for reading and writing horror, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and young adult stories. She balances all the dark with light fluffy stuff like baking and traveling.

Author Links: Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon

#CTST

It's that time again to 
Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog

I've spent the week watching my munchkin babies. Which left me with little energy of doing much of anything else. 

I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend. We're combining Derby Day and Mother's Day on Saturday with a BBQ.

Now Here's The Cover Reveal For Sign of the Green Dragon by C. Lee McKenzie


When a wall of their cave hideout crumbles, three boys discover a skeleton, clutching a treasure map. They set off to trace the story of an old murder, but stumble into a modern crime, and confront ancient Chinese dragons. 
Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/619550)B&N (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sign-of-the-green-dragon-c-lee-mckenzie/1123482000?ean=2940152896886) Kobo (https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/sign-of-the-green-dragon)
Goodreads ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29415474-sign-of-the-green-dragon) 

Bio: C. Lee McKenzie is a 4 & 5 star reviewed author. Her greatest passion is writing for young readers. Sign of the Green Dragon is her third Middle Grade novel. Alligators Overhead and the sequel, The Great Time Lock Disaster were her first two. She has traditionally published four young adult novels: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets.

#IWSG

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
Join Alex J. Cavanaugh and a multitude of writer's in this monthly hop to help support one another!

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Alex's awesome co-hosts for the May 4 posting of the IWSG will be Stephen Tremp, Fundy Blue, MJ Fifield, Loni Townsend, Bish Denham, Susan Gourley, and Stephanie Faris!  


I've been reading some awesome books lately. Mr. King said it: For me, Stephen King's statement holds true. Although, my insecurity comes from these fabulous books. I'll never achieve the great writing that I'm reading. I can spin a tale, but my problem is getting it to flow on paper or computer.  Whenever I start to feel overwhelmed with writer's insecurities I think about the billions of books out there for people to choose. And mine is a speck of sand on the ocean floor. Oftentimes I hear people say, "I don't read." *slaps head*
I've learned to take a step back from my over managing, and being a neurotic-nilly, and say to myself, "There's much more to life than a book. My book." True!

COVER REVEAL: Trouble By Any Other Name by Lori L. MacLaughlin

Tara Triannon is no stranger to trouble. She's yet to find an enemy her skill with a sword couldn't dispatch. But how can she fight one that attacks through her dreams?
With her nightmares worsening, Tara seeks answers but finds only more questions. Then her sister, Laraina, reveals a stunning secret that forces Tara to go to the one place Tara's sworn never to return to. Her troubles multiply when Jovan Trevillion, the secretive soldier of fortune who stole her heart, is mentally tortured by an ancient Being intent on bending him to its will. And worst of all, the Butcher — the terrifying wolf-like assassin she thought she'd killed — survived their duel and is hunting her again.

Hounded by enemies, Tara sets out on a harrowing quest to discover the true nature of who she is, to come to grips with the new volatility of her magic, and to defeat the evil locked in a centuries-old trap that will stop at nothing to control her magic and escape through her nightmares.

Lori L. MacLaughlin traces her love of fantasy adventure to Tolkien and Terry Brooks, finding The Lord of the Ringsand The Sword of Shannara particularly inspirational. She's been writing stories in her head since she was old enough to run wild through the forests on the farm on which she grew up.She has been many things over the years – tree climber, dairy farmer, clothing salesperson, kids' shoe fitter, retail manager, medical transcriptionist, journalist, private pilot, traveler, wife and mother, Red Sox and New York Giants fan, muscle car enthusiast and NASCAR fan, and a lover of all things Scottish and Irish. When she's not writing (or working), she can be found curled up somewhere dreaming up more story ideas, taking long walks in the countryside, or spending time with her kids. She lives with her family in northern Vermont.

#CTST #CelebrateTheSmallThings

It's time to Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog
My Beta Reader liked my new YA/Fantasy. Now to finished the minor editing.

We had a wonderful time last week with my son. 

This weekend we celebrate Hazel's Baptism and Sammy's 2nd Birthday!!! 
This was my first day babysitting my two grand babies.

Hot New Release: Her Kind Of Man by Elle Wright #romance

ABOUT HER KIND OF MAN
When Mr. Right is oh so wrong
I'll never let you go . . . Allina had always dreamed of hearing those words. But when her fiancé, Isaac, utters them, it isn't a promise-it's a threat. Scared and confused, with only moments before the wedding, Allina knows what she must do. Forget walking down the aisle; it's time to run. Back to Michigan. Back to Kent.
Kent has loved Allina for longer than he can remember. Out of respect for their friendship, he's never crossed the line, but when she turns up on his doorstep wearing her torn, tearstained wedding gown, the fire inside him ignites. He'll do whatever it takes to make Allina feel safe-like the beautiful, desirable woman she is. But as Kent and Allina grow closer, and their passion pushes deeper, it's clear that something bigger than a botched wedding still lingers between them . . .
Amazon:  http://amzn.to/26jAjfWB&N: http://bit.ly/1WhdTHFiBooks:  http://apple.co/23NY7KhKobo: http://bit.ly/1r4fZz5IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1WhecSKGoodreads:  http://bit.ly/1SAyxCY
ABOUT ELLE WRIGHT
Born and raised in Southeast Michigan near Ann Arbor, Elle learned the importance of reading from her mother. It was also her mother who, later on in her life, gave Elle her first romance novel:  Indigoby Beverly Jenkins.  From that moment on, Elle became a fan of Ms. Jenkins for life and a lover of all things romance.  An old journal she wrote back in college became her first book (which she still wants to publish one day).
Website: http://bit.ly/1WhehWoFacebook: http://bit.ly/23NYAvSTwitter: http://bit.ly/1XMDHtU
ABOUT FOREVER
Website: http://bit.ly/247MdaFFacebook: http://on.fb.me/1ROTBj0Twitter: http://bit.ly/1Vdc9PkInstagram: http://bit.ly/1U8DN0MPinterest: http://bit.ly/25IQt20


HER KIND OF MAN by Elle WrightForever / On Sale: April 26, 2016Release Day Blitz Excerpt
Allina got up and carried her dishes over to the sink. She turned on the faucet and filled up the basin with water. “I’m going to clean up and get ready to go to the store.”He finished up his plate and joined her at the sink. Not thinking, he dropped his mug into the dishwater, splashing the soapy water on Allina. She screeched and stumbled back. He reached for her, sensing she was getting ready to fall. Instead of preventing her fall, she ended up pulling him with her and they both landed on the floor, her on her back and him on his side.“Ouch,” she groaned from her where she lay on the tile. “That hurt.” She wiped her face and pushed her hair back, leaving a few suds on her face.He chuckled. “That was . . . clumsy.”She laughed then. “It was crazy. How did I fall? There was no water on the floor.” She pointed at him. “It was your fault.”He grabbed her finger. “It was not my fault you can’t stay on your feet.”She flicked some remaining soap on him. It was a running joke with their crew. Syd was dramatic, Cali had no filter, and Allina was clumsy as hell. It didn’t matter where they were or what they were doing, Allina always seemed to get hurt.Before he knew it, they were both laughing in earnest. She turned to him. “I needed this.”He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Glad I could help. I’ve never met anyone who is more accident-prone than you.”She grinned, her eyes gleaming. “Hey. Don’t say that.”He stood up and held out a hand to her. When she placed her tiny palm in his, he pulled her to her feet.Brushing off her clothes, she murmured, “My body is al- ready sore from that run. Now my back is throbbing.”“Maybe you should go lie down for a little bit before we go to the store,” he suggested. “I have a heating pad some- where if you need it.”She waved him off. “I’m good.” Peering up at him, she smiled again. A wide grin. “I need to keep moving.”Kent observed her. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes dancing and he found himself inching closer to her. A piece of her hair was stuck to her forehead and he pushed it to the back.“I must look crazy,” she said, smoothing a hand over her hair.One of the things Kent found so attractive about Allina was her sultry, deep voice. She talked like she was singing a lullaby. It was low, even, and sexy as hell. And what made it even better was she had no idea it could have an effect on a man.As if he had no power or control to stop himself, he leaned closer. She peered up at him and froze. Instead of retreating, she stayed where she was, her eyes on his. The air changed in that instant. He brushed her cheek with his thumb and she gasped. Their noses were almost touching. He knew he should step back, walk away, but he couldn’t. His body had a mind of its own.His nose bumped into hers. Her breath still smelled like the honey from her tea. It was warm against his skin. He wanted to kiss her, more in that moment than ever before. Then her lips brushed against his. It wasn’t a full-on kiss, but enough to make him want more. He framed her face with his hands and kissed the corner of her mouth, enjoying her sharp intake of breath. She squeezed his biceps, her nails digging into the sensitive skin.“Kent,” she whispered. “Are you sure you want to do this?”“Do you want me to?” he asked, unable to keep his eyes off her mouth. It was amazing how one simple touch had opened up the box that labeled them “very close friends.” He imagined how it would feel to really taste her, to feel her tongue against his, to touch her the way he wanted.But then where would that leave them? Confused and awkward around each other? Allina wasn’t just any woman. He couldn’t do her first and ask the hard questions later, be- cause she deserved better than that. They had never really talked about sex with each other before, but knowing her the way he did, he figured she was careful about who and what she did. Being with her, or even kissing her, was a game changer. But, damn-it, I want to.Sighing, he stepped back. He scratched his head. “I’m sorry. This isn’t right. We better get going.”
Then he left her standing there in the kitchen.



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#CTST #CelebrateTheSmallThings

It's time to Celebrate the Small Things Hop over to Lexa Cain's and join in this fun weekly Celebration. Lexa's wonderful co-hosts are:L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The EdgeTonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog
The weather has been absolutely gorgeous. I'm enjoying the warmth and sunshine. It hit 74 degrees on Sunday, and with the 50's in the long range forecast it's better than 30.
Next week my life will become very, very busy. My daughter's maternity leave is over and she'll go back to work. I'll be watching my beautiful 2 month old granddaughter and my 2 year old grandson. Wish me luck....
So, before I begin my grandmotherly duties again~~~~I'm going on an Adventure:
I'm visiting my son in Pennsylvania! 
Have a nice weekend