S.J. Pajonas's Blog, page 19

2023: The Year I Focus on Progress and Cultivate Self-Belief

Happy New Year everyone! And welcome to 2023! 2022 was an especially tough year for me with covid and a slide backwards in fitness health, so we're going into 2023 looking forward, not back.

As usual, I am declaring a theme for this year.

2015 was The Year I Say No.
2016 was The Year I Give No F*cks.
2017 was The Year I Have Fun.
2018 was The Year I Don't Compete.
2019 was The Year I Improve Myself and My Business
2020 was The Year I Lead A Happy Creative Life
2021 was The Year I Develop My Systems
2022 was The Year I Become Stronger, Faster, More Powerful and Positive

2023 will be The Year I Focus on Progress and Cultivate Self-Belief

I actually asked the ChatGPT what my theme for next year should be. Lol. I told it what I wanted out of next year and asked it what my theme should be. It gave me both of these and I combined them into one.

Because I have always believed in “Progress, Not Perfection.” I should get it tattooed on me somewhere! Perfection is not possible, anyway. And progress is something I want to focus on this year, that journey of doing more and learning more, whenever I can.

And I have to believe in myself in order to do that. My self-confidence in 2022 was at an all-time low. I thought I was a failure at pretty much everything from being a mom and wife to an author and friend. This was during the depths of my post-covid fatigue and depression, and it was hard to shake.

But 2023 is going to help me turn that around. I will make progress and I will believe in myself.

Writing and Publishing Goals

I will write 3 books in my SJP name and 3 books in a new pen name. That's 6 books total! My goal is to write two Skylar Amagi Series books and one Kimura Sisters book as S. J. Pajonas. My other goal is to write 3 books in a brand-new pen name I'm starting. This will be a sexier sci-fi romance pen name that will only be in kindle unlimited. If you read these books, please feel free to message me either via the contact form on this blog or via my FB Page because I will not be revealing the pen name here for a few years. I want to see if I can launch this name with very little help from my existing audience.

Launch a new pen name. As I said, I won't really be talking much about it here except to say I'm working on it. But it will require a lot of work. A new website, logo, book covers, newsletter, social media presence, the works. Thankfully, I already have a name and I have my designer booked for a logo and branding package plus book covers!

Dive into more AI Audio. I'd like to have more AI audiobooks developed next year. Maybe I'll do the Amagi Series and my cozy mysteries? I don't know yet. Still, if I only do ONE book in AI audio, I'll be happy.

Business Goals

I will ramp up Facebook Ads. I'm working with a fantastic Facebook Ads coach who is helping me to develop audiences and strategies for my business. Short of having my FB account shut down (always could happen, you never know) I plan to be there a lot this year, advertising, interacting, and spending money. I already have seen promising results.

I will transition more books away from free to paid and raise prices. Permafree has worked well for me in the past, but it hasn't gotten me to that “next level” (probably because Bookbub refuses to advertise my books? Maybe?) so it's time to try something different. I want people to pay for the work I do. Except for the Nogiku Series (for now), I will be making all of my other free books paid and I will be raising the prices of everything else. They will still be free for newsletter subscribers and can be borrowed from the library too!

I will focus more on my newsletter. I will update the newsletter at least once per month, if not twice. I will work on bringing more readers to my newsletter by offering them free books and exclusive books.

I will continue to spend more time on Facebook. I dropped Instagram this past year because of all the changes they made. Facebook is more aligned with the way I like to interact online with photos, text, and only an occasional video. We'll see if they change too this coming year. I hope not!

Creativity Goals

I will read or listen to 25 books. I hit 21 books last year. Let's go for 4 more! (Of course, I read more books than 21 but my own books read OVER AND OVER don't count. Lol.)

I will learn Italian and Portuguese on Duolingo and Japanese on LingoDeer. I renewed my Duolingo and this year I'm adding Portuguese (Brazilian).

I will continue knitting on blankets when I have time. I like having a blanket always going.

Stretch Goal! I will knit a sweater this year. I have a pattern all picked out and some wool already purchased. I haven't knit a sweater in 10 years. We'll see if I can do it again.

Personal Goals

I will continue making the beach house our second home. I love the beach house already, and I enjoy spending time there. This year, I'd like to hang more photos and posters there and replace some furniture.

Stretch Goal! I would like to go to a conference this year. I'm not sure which one, but probably something author related. This is only a wishlist item.

Fitness Goals

I will bike 2000 miles on Peloton. I did ~2200 miles in 2022 which is fewer miles than I intended, by a lot. It turns out that I need back some of the time I've been spending on the bike for writing and walking. So I'm setting a smaller goal this year.

I will walk more. I would like to increase my walking time by about 25% this year. That means increasing my 45-50 min walks to 60-70 min. I'd like to take afternoon walks most days that I can, as well.

I will increase the time I spend in interval or tabata rides. I still am and always will be a PowerZone gal but I think intervals are important for older women. So I want to do at least one interval ride per week. Either HIIT and Hills Ride or a Tabata Ride.

I will work on keeping sugar out of my diet. I did this for a few months this year, and I think I can do it again in 2023.

Stretch Goal! I will complete a Peloton strength training program. If I'm feeling up for it, I'll try one of the strength training programs on Peloton. But no promises!

And that’s it!

This year, my goals are more modest, but they are all about my theme: PROGRESS and SELF-BELIEF. Let's do this, people! I can't wait to bring you on this ride with me.

Want to share your 2023 goals with me?

Comment and let me know what you’ll be up to in the new year!

The post 2023: The Year I Focus on Progress and Cultivate Self-Belief appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

Sunday Update – December 31, 2022

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

It's the Sunday Update on a Saturday! Mainly because tomorrow is January 1st, and I'd like to put my New Year's post on that day.

I didn't update last weekend because Christmas fell on a Sunday, and I figured it would be quiet in the blog circles anyway. I'm here to let you know that we all managed to be healthy for Christmas Day! And due to a Christmas miracle, it was only 1 hour each way to Long Island! That never happens. There wasn't even traffic on the George Washington Bridge nor the Cross Bronx. Freaking AMAZING.

Unfortunately for some of my extended family members, one family member had covid at Christmas Day and managed to give it to several others. So far, we're in the clear. I didn't interact with this family member much, and he mainly sat in one spot the entire time. Hopefully they all recover quickly.

In the time up to Christmas, I was working on Ean's Rare Gift, and it's now out there for my newsletter subscribers. YAY! I'm really happy with it and I've already heard back that readers are loving it.

In the time between Christmas and New Year's, I have been relaxing, reading, doing some fun brainstorming, playing with MidJourney, etc. I've just been enjoying the time off.

Strangely, Lulu had some kind of allergic reaction around mid-week and we're not sure why or to what. She was itchy Monday and Tuesday, and I didn't think too much of it. But Wednesday morning, I looked at her and said, “Why is the dog bumpy?” Like, I could see bumps under her fur. Her belly was all broken out too. So I rushed her off to the vet. They gave her a cortisone shot and benadryl, and she's been on steroids and benadryl since. She's much better! She was actually almost 100% better late Wednesday, but we'll be following the drug recommendations until she's done early next week.

My husband sent that second photo to the family group chat. Lol. Guilting the children into walking Lulu is one of our favorite pastimes!

Speaking of my husband and dogs, they love him. A lot. This photo was taken at Christmas.

Just wrapping presents, reading, and watching some TV. Taking down time for a week has been great!

Christmas gifts from my husband! I'm wearing the shirt right now. The gin hasn't been opened yet, but it's my favorite (and stupid expensive now).

No traffic on the George Washington Bridge on the way to Christmas on Long Island. A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

New Year's Eve lunch today was a big bowl of cheese ramen. I need a nap.

The family got a new game: Goat Simulator. Yes, you are a goat. Lol.

And finally, I hit my 800th Peloton ride! Yay!

Have a great new year, everyone! Stay safe and healthy.

The post Sunday Update – December 31, 2022 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

TV Chat #20 – A Look Back At What I Watched In 2022

Okay, I need to face facts here. I watch a lot of TV and movies, and I'm not ashamed of that. Lol. Before I wanted to write books, I wanted to write screenplays. It's been a dream of mine for ages, to write something for the screen. This may be why a lot of people remark on my books that they can see them as movies? I don't know, but I would hope my words inspire cinematic images in your brain.

But keeping up with my TV watching habit is tough on the blog, so I'm going to list out everything I watched this year and I will make a few comments on the things I loved the most. It's my intention to do this at the end of every month next year. We'll see if I can stick to it.

What I Watched This Year

Gilmore Girls, All Seasons

Emily in Paris, Seasons 1 and 2 rewatch

Get Back

The Expanse, Season 6

Blown Away Holiday

Foundation, Season 1

Lost in Space, Season 3

No Time To Die

Pride and Prejudice, Keira Knightly Edition

Red Notice

Book of Boba Fett

Grey’s Anatomy, All Seasons

Yellowstone, All Seasons

Ozark, Season 4

The Prestige

Never Let Me Go

Star Trek Strange New Worlds, Season 1

Star Trek Lower Decks, Seasons 1 and 2

Star Wars Bad Batch, Season 1

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Tokyo Vice, Season 1

For All Mankind, Season 3

Severance, Season 1

Blown Away, Season 3

Victorian Farm

Don’t Look Up

Edwardian Farm

The Adam Project

Big Timber, Seasons 1 and 2

Never Have I Ever…, Season 3

LOST, All Seasons

Handmaid's Tale, Season 5

Making the Cut, Season 3

Better Call Saul, Seasons 1-6

Great British Baking Show, Collection 10

The Crown, Season 5

Andor, Season 1

Mythic Quest, Seasons 1, 2, and 3

Station Eleven, Season 1

Great British Baking Show Holiday Edition

Call the Midwife, Season 11

Emily in Paris, Season 3

White Lotus

Shows I Loved the Most

A few of these shows really stand out for me.

Emily in Paris
Comedy, Drama, Romance | October 2, 2020 (United States)


6.9











Writer: Stars: , , Summary: Emily, an ambitious twenty-something marketing executive from Chicago, unexpectedly lands her dream job in Paris when her company acquires a French luxury marketing company - and she is tasked with revamping their social media strategy. Emily's new life in Paris is filled with intoxicating adventures and surprising challenges as she juggles winning over her work colleagues, making friends, and navigating new romances.





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Emily in Paris
I rewatched this and then devoured the last season in two days. This show reminds me of an old-time comforting favorite, Sex and the City. I think I could rewatch it again. (Netflix)

Station Eleven
| December 16, 2021 (United States)


7.6











Writer: Stars: , , Summary:





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Station Eleven
Hauntingly beautiful and well-done. This one is sticking with me. I usually hate timelines that jump around, but this one was plotted nicely. (HBO MAX)

Andor
| September 21, 2022 (United States)


8.4











Writer: Stars: , , Summary:





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Andor
Totally fantastic. This show had so much to offer with no Jedis, no Force, and no lightsabers. Diego Luna was so engaging and the politics and edge-of-my-seat action had me captured. Can't wait for another season! (Disney+)

Better Call Saul
| February 8, 2015 (United States)


8.9











Writer: , Stars: , , Summary:





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Better Call Saul
This was one of those shows where you're not sure if you should be rooting for protagonist, but you do it anyway because they're so charismatic. I love the way this series ended. It was exactly the way it should be. (Netflix and Amazon Video)

Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller | 60min | TV Series (2017– )


8.4











Summary: A religion-based autocracy has taken over most of the United States, renaming the country Gilead. In this country women are second-class citizens. Anyone trying to escape is punished. One such person is June, who is captured while trying to escape with her husband and child and is sentenced to be a handmaid, bearing children for childless government officials. As a handmaid, June is renamed Offred. This is her story. Written bygrantss





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Handmaid's Tale
This show continues to deliver, every damned, gut-wrenching, horrifying season. This last one was no joke. I'm still thinking about the parting scene and wondering what will happen in the next and final season. (Hulu)

Severance
| February 18, 2022 (United States)


8.7











Writer: Stars: , , Summary:





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Severance
I went into this knowing the basic concept and yet… yet… it didn't ruin anything. It was so mysterious and different. The sets and lighting and directing and acting, ALL of it were top-notch. The final episode of the season blew me away. It's worth it to sit through this one if you are on the fence about it. (Apple TV+)

Tokyo Vice
| April 7, 2022 (United States)


8











Stars: , , Summary:





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Tokyo Vice
Never before has a show so vividly captured the foreigner in Japan who is actually trying genuinely to be a part of the Japanese culture. I kept laughing because I was saying “That's true” and “Yeah, that happens” and “God, that's accurate” over and and over. My husband got an earful from me after every episode. So good, but made me want to be back in Japan BADLY. (HBO MAX)

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
| May 5, 2022 (United States)


8.2











Writer: , , Stars: , , Summary:





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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Everything I've been asking for from Star Trek for the last 15 years but haven't gotten in any of the other shows. A cool ship. A fox of a captain. A fun crew. And missions every episode that keep me watching like TNG did. I can't wait for this one to come back! (Paramount+)

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A Look Back At 2022 – What I Accomplished, Set Aside, or Changed

Well, 2022 was quite the year. This was a hard post for me to write because I don't think I've ever had such a difficult year where I failed so many of my goals. It was go go go all year to the point where I got burned out in the summer while trying to recover from covid.

Let's look back at this year…

January started off with my birthday and a trip to our new beach house! We moved a bunch of stuff down there over the MLK weekend and I got plenty of walks on the beach in the cold. We celebrated our great uncle with family (he died a few years ago but we salute him).

February was busy for me. I presented in an English class at Michigan State University. Lulu got her Valentine's photos taken. I went down to the beach house by myself for a self-care weekend. I watched a lot of Grey's Anatomy and knit on my blanket.

March was another full month! We went to the beach house again and my youngest daughter got the flu. We had the beach house painted all inside and I had my 600th Peloton ride.

April was probably the craziest month of the year. We went to Disneyworld for our spring break! And it was such a great time. I had so much fun and it was definitely needed because it really boosted my spirits. But then we returned home and I got covid. Not really surprising, but it was the beginning of my covid fatigue that lasted six months.

May was all about recovery. Though we did a lot this month with another trip to the beach house over Memorial Day weekend, and lots of softball, I was very lethargic and depressed. I hid it well and put on a smile for family and friends. But inside, I was really down. I was uncreative, writing very slowly on The Fate of Shin-Osaka, so tired, doing the bare minimum of exercise, not eating well. It was tough.

June meant the end of school and more time at the beach house! Once school was done and the sun was out, I was definitely feeling a bit better, but not a lot. We had a k-pop concert and more time at the beach house. I continued writing, but it wasn't going well.

July was a great month with lots going on. We went to the beach house with my parents while my oldest daughter was traveling in Italy. We got our pool installed and we love it!

August was a lot of fun too. We briefly had family down at the beach house again before they had to go home because of covid (sigh). We also got our deck refinished and I did a bunch of reorganizing in the house.

September was back to school, of course. And we had a doggie guest for 11 days while my parents went to Italy. It was a lot of work, but I was glad I could help them out. Marching band and field hockey started back up again and it was a constant stream of afterschool activities. It was exhausting.

October was the same except for a trip away for me. Field hockey, band, and lots and lots of carpooling. I went to Rhinebeck NY Sheep and Wool midway through the month to hang out with friends. It was so great. So fabulous. I wish I could do it every month! I was starting to feel better this month, less tired and less depressed. I was finally coming out of my covid fog.

November was another blur of a month. My husband and I took a day off and went to the city together. I finished and published The Fate of Shin-Osaka, then we went to South Carolina to visit my parents and celebrate my father's 80th birthday. We also saw family for Thanksgiving which was nice. I got a little further into Italian by studying from a book too. I started writing Ean's Rare Gift and held myself to a deadline in December.

December has been crazy busy as well. I finished Ean's Rare Gift and sent it out to my newsletter people. I was at the hospital several times to visit a sick family member and help another family member with the stuff that went along with it. I was on my own for most of this month as my husband traveled for two weeks of the month and then was sick for a third week. So I was annoyed and exhausted for many days. Lol. But after many months of covid fatigue it was good to get a lot done.

Favorite Part of This Year

Going to Disneyworld. It was so much fun. I love it there.

Least Favorite Part of This Year

Getting covid, obviously, and the fatigue that followed.

Let’s look back at my goals from the year…

2022: The Year I Become Stronger, Faster, More Powerful and Positive

Well, unfortunately, this goal was a big fat NO this year. I did not become stronger, faster, more powerful and positive due to covid. I actually exercised a lot less, slowed down, and was depressed for many months. Despite getting a fair amount done, I still failed at almost every goal. It's making me think again about how I want to define 2023.

Writing and Publishing Goals

I will concentrate on writing 1000 words per day when not editing or doing other tasks. Nope. There were several months where I did not write at all. I almost thought I was close to quitting because writing had become such a chore.

Put all my titles into large print format after July. Nope. Didn't happen. I did make sure all of my books were on Ingram Spark. That's about it.

Publish The Amagi Series Books 2 and 3, Hikoboshi Book 5, another Pets in Space novella. So, this one was close. I did publish A Fortunate Accident, The Fate of Shin-Osaka, and Myra's Big Mistake. Instead of doing another Amagi Series book, I decided to write a newsletter exclusive Kimura Sisters book, Ean's Rare Gift.

Added Goals

I thought I would make audiobooks of my pen name's books. But I realize I just don't have the time to do this.

Business Goals

I will continue to advertise my free books every month. I did this with some Amazon Ads too, except for the third quarter which I took off.

I will take off six months from the business of publishing. I did do this but only because of the covid fatigue. And I've gotta tell you, I won't be doing this again. It's not healthy for me. More on this in my New Year post.

I will continue to spend more time on Instagram. Instagram took a major dive for me this year. They stopped distributing my posts and would only give me love if I posted Reels. So I decided to step back.

Added Goals

I started Facebook Ads. I have employed the wonderful Mal Cooper to help me with Facebook Ads for my books, and they're actually working! I may slowly be moving the majority of my books to paid status and running ads on them all. We shall see.

Creativity Goals

I will read or listen to 20 books. I actually read or listened to 21 books! Huzzah! And I'm almost done with number 22 so I'll just roll it into this count.

I will learn Italian and Japanese on Duolingo. I kept up with Italian. Japanese has been on and off all year. Sometimes I just don't have the time.

I will knit one shawl and crochet a temperature blanket. Another failure in that I didn't do either of these. My temperature blanket pattern was just a bad idea. I ended up knitting a different blanket, which I love. I then fell off the knitting wagon for several months, but I am working on another blanket.

Personal Goals

I will work on making the beach house our second home. The beach house has really come a long way! It's more comfortable there now, and I love it. But the kids don't want to spend a lot of time there, so we catch as catch can.

I will travel and see friends and family more, Covid permitting. We did see friends and family more even through many rounds of covid, flu, RSV, and stomach bugs.

Fitness Goals

I will bike 3000 miles on Peloton. Nope. I did about 2200 miles. Thanks, covid.

I will participate in Pelofondo again. Nope. Didn't happen.

I will do all the 75-min and 90-min Power Zone Endurance Rides in the library by 2022’s end. Nope. Didn't happen.

I will work my way up to 60-min Climb Rides. Nope. Didn't happen. (Is there an echo in here?)

I will complete the Peloton Boxing course. Same. Didn't happen.

I will participate in every Power Zone Pack Challenge and make sure to always buy a t-shirt! I stopped doing challenges because I wanted to just be able to ride without the pressure of riding.

Wow… I blew every single one of my fitness goals this year.

And That’s It For The Year!

It wasn't the best of updates, but it is what it is. I can only hope I do better next year. I’ll be back with my goals post for 2023 on January 1st! I hope you all have a safe, healthy, and happy new year!

The post A Look Back At 2022 – What I Accomplished, Set Aside, or Changed appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

The Astrology of Ean’s Rare Gift

When I was writing Ean's Rare Gift, I decided to do another fun pairing of Air and Fire. I've done this before in the Amagi Series, but this time I really wanted a Sagittarius woman to take center stage! Let's learn more about Ean Kimura, our Gemini, and Karina Varoni, our Sagittarius.

Ean Kimura

Gemini, the zodiac sign of the Twins, is a unique and highly versatile sign and it's the perfect sign for Ean. Those born under this sign are known for their strong intellectual capabilities and quick wit, as well as their incredible communication skills. Ean often puts these qualities to use at his job running the Kimura Foundation which helps the homeless in his town find housing. Gemini's possess an amazing ability to see both sides of an argument or conflict – making them excellent mediators and negotiators. He's the best of the best, and everyone wants to work with him. He's able to quickly assess situations, think on his feet, and come up with inventive solutions that can help bring resolution to any problem. When Ean is on the case, he can always come up with the perfect compromise for every situation. Gemini's are also renowned for their adaptability, creativity, and curiosity, which make them excellent problem solvers and innovators.

Ean is a pair widow. His pair cat, Suzie, died a few years ago and he misses her terribly. Even though he's especially charismatic, he hasn't met his new pair… yet. But of course, his new pair has to be the perfect counterpoint to him, also intelligent and curious! Can you guess what animal is the perfect match? I bet you can!

Geminis are often seen as scattered or restless when it comes to making decisions or commitments and Ean is no different. He's scared of committing to a woman, and he's never taken the leap in the past. He can appear indecisive and confused due to his need for variety and being able to explore multiple options at once. This can mean that Geminis have difficulty committing to any one path in life, and can be too easily swayed by the opinions of others. Thankfully, Ean committed to the foundation early in life and loves his job, otherwise he would be drifting from one job to the next!

Due to their love of conversation and debate, Geminis may sometimes come across as unreliable when speaking with others, as they may jump from one topic to the next before coming to a conclusion. Ean's Moon is in Aries, and that helps him temper this because he invests his emotional energy in demonstrating his authority and ambition.

Karina Varoni

Karina is the Italian heroine I've always wanted to write. Sagittarius is a sign of strength and resilience, which is why Karina is such a great fit for Ean. Born under the ninth sign of the zodiac, Sagittarians are known for their natural optimism and enthusiasm, as well as their strong sense of justice. They are adventurous souls who crave new experiences and uncharted territories, and they don't shy away from challenges or hard work. All of this describes Karina perfectly! She's a young widow who picked up her broken life in one town and started a new business somewhere else, hoping to start over. She's always willing to help, and she does it with a smile and a positive attitude.

Sagittarius-born individuals have an unwavering determination that allows them to tackle difficult tasks or unconventional problems with ease. Karina taps into this when a strong storm threatens the town and Ean needs help. Her positive nature also leads her to take joy in learning something new, as knowledge-seeking comes naturally to those born under this sign. This, coupled with their resilience, makes Sagittarian Karina the perfect sign for Ean.

Sagittarians are known for their impulsivity and reckless behavior which can lead to poor decision-making. Karina has had plenty of this in the past but with her Mercury in Libra this Sagittarian becomes more conscious of her words and actions. It tempers her carelessness. Additionally, they are prone to exaggeration and over-promising without considering the consequences of their actions, making it difficult for them to follow through on commitments or grand ideas. They may also be overly blunt in their interactions with others as a result of not being able to filter their thoughts before speaking. Again, though, Karina's Mercury in Libra gives her the self-discipline and focus to follow through with her ambitious ideas and commitments. This helps her to be more positive and productive in her endeavors and less likely to hurt another's feelings.

Gemini and Sagittarius in Love

Gemini and Sagittarius signs have a lot of potential for a passionate and exciting romance, especially Ean and Karina. Both are naturally passionate, fun-loving, and adventurous people who enjoy exploring the world through a variety of experiences whether that's a trip to the local pairing club or spending an afternoon together doing charity work.

However, these two signs can also have a tendency to be a bit too scattered and impulsive in their relationships. They may be prone to making rash decisions and jumping into relationships too quickly, which can lead to misunderstandings or hurt feelings. We see this near the end of this story, but thankfully, Ean's impulsive decision ends happily. With the right balance of communication and understanding, Gemini and Sagittarius can be a highly compatible match and enjoy a fulfilling, passionate romance. Communication is key, and Ean and Karina have this in spades!

Read Ean's Rare Gift today!

You can only read this Kimura Sisters novella by subscribing to my mailing list! Already on my list? You should be getting a newsletter about it very soon. Feel free to contact me if you don't receive the email!

Love can blossom in the most unexpected places, especially when the future is uncertain.

Ean Kimura has harbored a crush on Karina Varoni for years, but he never found the courage to act on it. Karina, the local café owner, is a widow living with the ghost of her late husband and struggling to move on with her life. After confessing her feelings to her sister-in-law, she finally musters the courage to ask Ean on a date, and he eagerly accepts. Despite the fear of ruining their friendship, Ean and Karina take a chance at love and their date blossoms into a magical evening.

But when a superstorm threatens their town, Ean and Karina must put their relationship on hold to help those in danger. Working together to save a group of people squatting in a nearby abandoned estate, disaster strikes, and they're forced to flee the chaos.

Will their love be powerful enough to survive the storm? Ean and Karina will discover the strength of their bond in this thrilling and romantic tale of courage and devotion in Ean's Rare Gift, a companion novella to the Kimura Sisters Series.

Subscribe to my mailing list to read this book today!

The post The Astrology of Ean’s Rare Gift appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

Sunday Update – December 18, 2022

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Well, December has been a bit of a bust for the blog. Lol. You can really tell when I'm busy with life and writing because all I can get in is the Sunday Update every week, which I try hard not to miss. I don't know about you, but I enjoy these weekly check-ins. I've been doing them for so long, I'm pretty sure I won't be able to give them up any time soon.

The home life was rough this week. I think both of my kids are feeling the end-of-semester fatigue. All of their teachers are giving tests and the kids are stressed out. Both of my children melted down on me this week with tears and yelling. I think they're doing better now that they've gotten some extra sleep, but I expect this coming week to be rough too.

My husband was out of town all week again and then came home sick. Ugh. The flu is just rampant this year! We all got flu shots and it's still hitting us. I'm exhausted because I was the only parent here the last two weeks and now he's sick? WHY? Sigh. Learning to let go of the disappointment is hard. It's not his fault he's sick. I'm just tired. We got through the week by the skin of our teeth.

The good news is that Ean's Rare Gift is pretty much done. The main story is complete and I'm writing a sexy bonus scene now that will be done today. Then I will immediately move on to edits so I can get this out to all the newsletter subscribers, tout de suite.

Per usual, Lulu continues to be a joy.

Lulu's favorite person in this house is my husband. He'll deny it, but it's true. So when he was sick in bed all day yesterday, she dragged her bed over to this spot so she could be closer to him in our bedroom beyond that door.

Some moments from this past week.

Friday zooms are sacred enough that sometimes we catch them in the car! Lol.

This was such an exhausting week to the point where I was also physically exhausted as well.

Visited my uncle this week and I love that he has all of these old photos up on the wall. He's been an avid photographer his whole life.

And finally, from a post I put on Facebook… One of my favorite podcasts is 99% Invisible and I always listen to new shows when they drop. This week they had a bunch of mini stories including one about beavers being dropped into the wilderness by a river from a plane. Yes. No joke. It was pretty funny and informative! They mentioned that when people originally heard about this conservation plan they thought each beaver had a little parachute, instead of being in a crate with a parachute. Roman Mars, the show’s host, laughed and laughed over that one. I thought, ”This is the perfect Midjourney prompt.” And so I present beavers parachuting through the sky.

I hope you all have a great week! Stay safe and healthy.

The post Sunday Update – December 18, 2022 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

Sunday Update – December 11, 2022

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

I don't have a ton to report this week. My husband was out of town for a few days, and I was splitting my time between home and hospital visits. When I was home, I was taking care of the kids and Lulu and writing. Besides my usual daily exercise routine, I didn't get out much except to go grocery shopping and to one doctor's appointment.

The hospital visits are over now though, thankfully. My family member is back at their house with end-of-life care. I hope to go visit them early this coming week for an hour or so. Otherwise, this week will be more of the same except that my husband will be gone for even longer as he is traveling to Boston this week for work. I plan to get us by with a pot of soup and lots of takeout.

I also plan on finishing Ean's Rare Gift this week and getting straight into edits. There's not much story editing to do because I've been editing as I go. But lower-level edits will take place so I can get this story to my newsletter list around Christmas.

I made baked ziti for both me and my cousin. It was delicious. I will definitely make it again.

Lulu continues to bring love and joy.

Getting Lulu out for evening walks when my husband isn't here is tough. She often does not want to go with me. She wants DADDY! But this week I managed to convince her to go to the park right before sunset.

Sometimes I buy the groceries, put away all the frozen or cold stuff, and leave the rest for the kids to put away when they come home from school.

Our tree is up! And includes the classic ornaments…

I made this MidJourney image for a Facebook post about this month's full moon. Version 4 is so good!

Finally, it was a tough week, so cheers! We got through it.

Have a great week everyone! Stay safe and healthy.

The post Sunday Update – December 11, 2022 appeared first on S. J. Pajonas.

Sunday Update – December 4, 2022

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

I can hardly believe we're in the last month of the year. Where has the time gone? All I know is that I have a lot to fit in in this last month including finishing writing a book and Christmas shopping. Ugh.

Writing on Ean's Rare Gift is going really well. This is why updating my blog has fallen by the wayside. My days are jam-packed with writing and a million other things. Finding time to update the blog is just not happening. But that's okay because I should be writing anyway! I'm past the halfway point in the story and it's really coming together. It looks like I should finish on time or very close to my December 15th deadline.

This week, my youngest daughter went back to school on Tuesday. She was the one who caught covid over the Thanksgiving break. She tested negative pretty quickly. It seemed to only last a few days in her, but with vaccinations and a previous infection, I'm not surprised. Her immune system is on guard! :) I did get some bad news about the health of another family member, though, this week and spent some time at the hospital visiting him yesterday. Hopefully, he pulls through okay soon.

It was also my husband's 49th birthday this past week, so happy birthday to him!

Not much else has been happening. We're getting through the days one-by-one around here. I'm looking forward to the holidays.

Lulu continues to be either by my side or doing something silly.

Some moments from this week: Sunday was spent in my comfy pajama pants all day. Abi won the Emperor's Cup in the November Sumo Basho. It was his first time winning. We had an amazing sunrise on Monday morning. I made pasta sauce on Friday.

I tried a tabata ride for the first time on Monday. It was hard but fun. I was totally gassed the rest of the day, though. Lol. I continue to love Peloton because there's always something fun and new for me to try.

It was super cold this week, like February levels of cold. I kinda want to wear a mask on days like this, just to keep my face warm.

I’ve been studying Italian for almost a year now using Duolingo. It’s a good program for learning and I like it a lot but it falls down in a key area — explanation. Often, they just have you make a mistake, memorize the right answer, and correct it the second time around without telling you WHY it was wrong. This drives me insane. I need to know the rules of language in order to follow them! That’s something I miss about taking an in-person class. In Japanese classes, I’d always be able to ask why and sensei would say “because this is an intransitive verb” or whatever and I could do further study with the right information.

So I have to bolster my Italian Duolingo study with textbooks in order to understand what’s going on. I pretty much flunked the advanced pronouns in Duolingo because I had no idea what they were doing. This book is setting me straight between subject and object pronouns. Now I will have a better understanding of how to use them.

I crossed the halfway point of writing this book! And I've written more since this.

Relaxing on the couch on Friday night with my martini and dog. A great way to end the week!

Have a great week everyone! Stay safe and healthy

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My Typical Weekday Schedule

Being an author and stay-at-home mom means I have a lot to get done every day. Between my kids, husband, dog, friends, family, and author career, I am swamped from morning to night. So, here's a look at what I do in a typical weekday.

Writing time with the doggo.

6:30AM

Wake for the day. Sometimes it's a little earlier if I'm not sleeping well. Other days, I sleep all the way to my alarm. I sneak out of bed and leave my husband there to get dressed in the bathroom with the clothes I set out the night before.

Feed Lulu. Empty the dishwasher. Make sure the kids are up and getting ready for school. Make tea. Sit with my phone to go through email and a little social media.

7:00AM

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, I have to drive my oldest to school because she has chorus on these mornings and it's too far for her to walk at like 6:45AM and still have time to get ready. I return home after this, finish my tea with a little more social media and email.

7:30AM

Start working. This is usually 15 minutes of getting myself warmed up by reading what I wrote the day before and then I start writing. If I'm not writing a book, this is the time to do other author things like making marketing images, scheduling social media posts, working on audiobooks, etc etc.

8:30AM

Second cup of tea. Keep working.

A typical walk in the park day!

10:00AM

Time for exercise! This means either I walk with and without Lulu (she only likes to walk a certain distance with me) or Peloton. Peloton time is usually a 30-minutes bike class, 10-min arms, 5-min stretch.

11:00AM

Done with exercising. I towel off and shower later. (Don't judge.) If it's a Wednesday or Friday, I take Lulu to daycare so she can play with other dogs and be fawned over for 5 hours straight. If it's another day, I do some house stuff or emails.

Lunch and some TV. Sometimes here at the kitchen island but usually on the couch.

11:30AM

Eat my first meal of the day. Relax. Watch a little TV.

12:30PM

Usually done with lunch. Shower time.

1:00PM/1:30PM

Make coffee and get back to work. Usually for this stretch, I try to get in the rest of my words for the day. I only write about 1500-2000 words per day usually. I'm not a 5-10k per day writer. My brain just doesn't work like that. Once the words are done, I move onto other author business stuff.

3:00PM

Usually my kids are home from school but not always. They walk so I don't have to pick them up unless the weather is crappy. By this time of the day, I'm pretty beat, even with the coffee in me. If I can stay awake, I keep working. If I can't, I nap. Even if I lay down, I may not always sleep, though. It's a toss-up. Some days, I also walk Lulu again during this hour.

4:00PM

By this time, my brain is mush. I tend to spend this hour Facebooking or Reddit reading or book reading or watching TV. If Lulu is at daycare, I pick her up and feed her.

Dinner and some TV. If I'm alone, I'm here on the couch. If I'm with my husband, we eat the island together. If it's the whole family, eat at the dining room table.

5:30PM-7:00PM

This is typical dinner time. The actual time fluctuates depending on evening activities like band or sports for the kids. My husband is the main cook in the family, but we still order takeout or do frozen meals, too. He works from home most days, so this is okay for us. I cook on Fridays, usually something that can be eaten for leftovers. Then I clean the kitchen. I always clean the kitchen. It's a treat to have someone else do it. My husband always walks Lulu during this time. If he's not home for the evening, I have to do it.

7:00PM-8:30PM

Sometimes this goes to 9:00PM depending on what I have to do. My husband takes this time to read or work on music or whatever. I will finish up any work tasks for the day and do my Duolingo.

Sleepy time on the couch at night.

9:00PM-10:00PM

TV time with my husband. The kids are usually winding down with their own shows in their rooms. They go to bed around 9:30PM.

10:30PM-11:00PM

Bedtime. There's always the wind-down time here. Starting the dishwasher, letting Lulu out one last time, getting her settled in for the night on the couch (she loves sleeping there), bathroom time, set out clothes for the next day, into bed, reading, etc before lights out.

So, in general, I am ON and working from 6:30AM to 8:30PM every day. On the weekends, I get to sleep in a little, but not much. I tend to do a similar schedule on the weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, because there is soooooo much work to do as an author, all by yourself. I outsource a few things, but the majority has to be done by me. The weekend does mean that I get to spend more time with my family, and I do that in the evenings mostly. Dinner together, maybe a movie. The kids have social lives, though, and they will spend time with friends, too. It's a fluid thing.

As for errands, grocery shopping, etc, I sacrifice writing time for that. Tuesdays, I tend to grocery shop in the latter part of my morning writing time before exercise. Some errands I run after lunch when I'm supposed to be working, too. This is just the way of things.

Hopefully, that gives you a peek at what I do! It's a lot and I have to fit it in as much as I can. If you're wondering where the gaming or reading or knitting time is, then you're not the only one. Lol. I don't always have time for downtime, sad to say. I have to take in chunks every few months. But this is what small business owners who are also parents have to do.

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December 2022 Goals

How is it even December? I have no idea where this year went…

What happened with November's Goals?

Publish The Fate of Shin-Osaka. This happened right at the beginning of the month! Total slam dunk.

Write Ean's Rare Gift. As of today, I am at the half-way point of this book, about 18k written.

Get caught up on all my back blog posts. Nope. Didn't happen. It was a busy month.

Spend more time on AI art. I only did a few here and there.

Finish the audiobook for The Daydreamer Detective. Lol. I have to laugh at myself. There's no time to work on these! Like NONE. I am working 12 hours every day and there's just no time left for this task. Sigh.

Stay on top of my Duolingo Italian and Lingo Deer Japanese. I haven't done as much Japanese as I would have liked, but the Duolingo has been good.

Visit my parents in South Carolina! We went and had a great time!

Continue with my fitness goals. This is the one thing that I refuse to slack off on and haven't. Go me!

Reading, TV, and knitting. The usual here. I finished LOST, Handmaid's Tale, Making the Cut, Great British Baking Show, The Crown, and Better Call Saul. I have not been reading or knitting. No brain power left for it.

December Goals

FInish Ean's Rare Gift. My plan is to finish this by December 15th, do a quick edit, and get it out to my newsletter subscribers for the holidays.

Spend more time on AI art. I really need to do this this month.

Finish the audiobook for The Daydreamer Detective. Soooo, this time I would like to work on this between Christmas and New Year's when I hopefully have less to do. We shall see.

Start Facebook Ads. I am working with a Facebook Ads coach now! She is helping me with strategy, blurb writing, and a bunch of other stuff. I hope to start ads this month and watch them to see what they do.

Plan out my social media calendar for first quarter 2023. I bought a bunch of helpful guides to posting on social media and I want to plan out the first quarter in 2023 so that all I have to do is consult the calendar and go. My main focus will be Facebook, with a side hustle into Instagram.

Stay on top of my Duolingo Italian and Lingo Deer Japanese. The usual. Work on it a little every day and I make progress.

Go to the beach house between Christmas and New Year's. We were going to go after Thanksgiving but covid put a wrench in that plan. I would love to see what it looks like there for the holidays so hopefully we'll head down on Boxing Day.

Continue with my fitness goals. I'm loving my current fitness schedule so I hope to continue with that.

Reading, TV, and knitting. The usual here. I'm really hoping to pick up my knitting again once Ean's Rare Gift is done.

That's it for this month! Have a great December everyone!

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