Susan Lower's Blog, page 10

Why You Should Include Reading On Your List Of Things To Do Together

You know what they say, couples who read together, stay together.

And it’s true.

According to relationship experts, reading jolts your brain. And it has the power to bring couples closer together.

We grow closer to others by revealing and sharing new thoughts, ideas and fantasies with each other. Hence, reading a book and then discussing it draws us closer to the one we love.

photo credit: Erin Kelly via Flickr CC

It never ceases to amaze me how we can bond over a book with our significant other. You don’t even have to like the same genre, but you can both enjoy some time together and separate interest.

But how is this making my relationship stronger, you’re wondering?

Years ago, during those first fresh newly wed years of marriage, my husband and I shared our interest with reading, and on many occasions we would take turns reading aloud to each other. At times, you’d find two book marks in the same book. “His” and “Hers” where we both left off at different places in a story.

Even between jobs, laundry, and tending to babies, many hours were passed discussing the parts of the books we’d both read and hinting to each other and predicting what was to come next in the books we read.

And yes, after years of marriage there comes times where you may feel there is nothing left to discuss because you’ve already talked about it. Or you’ve become tired of talking about it. But a book, there’s always a new story to read and discover. Perhaps you read the same book and share the same interest in genre, but not have the same favorite authors. Or may you like different genres, but even so, you still ask and listen about what the other is reading.

It can freshen up your relationship. It helps release the stresses of a day’s work, family strains, and other worries we face for enough moments to remember we’re in this together. There is still adventure in our love life, evolving interests and new ideas and theories to talk about with the person we’re sharing life with. That’s what bonds us. Not only as couples, but as thrill seekers, romantics, comedians, and mystery solvers.

When you get to that end of day period, and you just want to unwind, do it together. Read to each other, read side by side on your phones, nooks, or paperback books. There is something satisfying about curling up to a good book. Most likely, you’ll find it’s a whole lot more cozy when you’ve got someone else curling up with you.

Image via Flickr CC by Joao Paulo de Vasconcelos

Don’t keep reading together exclusive to your nights. Grab a blanket and your partner and head to the nearest park. Pick a shady spot under a tree on a porch swing. Before you know it, you’ll look forward to spending more time together. You may even become inseparable, and I’m not implying from the book. (Disclaimer: books can also be hard to become inseparable from when you’re pulled into an irresistible story.)

You may find you are attracted to this new literary side you have discovered. It’s okay to get your ‘geek’ on together.

After all… couples who read together, stay together. Right?

I’ll be including printable HIS and HER Bookmarks in this month’s newsletter. Please be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you can receive them and other goodies I share throughout the year. 

What’s the last book you read together as a couple?

Walking Through the Doors of Fiction With 5th Grade

This past week I received an invitation to hang out with a class of 5th graders.

I’ve always enjoyed going into my children’s schools and assisting with classroom projects and parties. This time, I wasn’t sure how it would go when I received an invitation to visit my son’s 5th grade class, but not as a mom–as an author.

I have to say there are those moments in your life, as a parent, that you are so proud of your children. But, as I watched my son sit in the back of the classroom smiling, I have a feeling he was so much more proud of me at that moment then I have ever expected.

For that moment in time, I wasn’t his mom. I was a super hero.

And, I totally rocked in 5th grade.

We took an adventure through the three doorways of writing a fictional story.

The door of NO RETURN

The door of DOOM

The door of TOMORROW

 

We had an awesome 90 minutes together. Already, I have been invited to return and assist these kids with their fictional stories. I look forward to returning and reading their stories, but I also look forward to taking this adventure with other students and hope other schools will extend this invitation to me in the future.

Teachers, feel free to contact me and we’ll work out the details on my calendar.

Thanks to my incredible husband (who happens to also be a teacher — math teacher) he added a bit of “bling” to my presentation including some party music of which these 5th graders loved! I don’t know makes learning fiction better than a little music and a lot of fun!

Those 90 minutes went so fast. None of us wanted it to end, but a special THANK YOU to this 5th grade class and their teacher for reminding me of the excitement and joys of being a writer.

 

 

 

 

Up Coming Releases in 2016

As I’m looking at 2016 and the projects I have on my desk, I have been reminded of a promise I made. A promise I don’t intend to put off any longer.

Five years ago, I started a writing project that has been long over due in completion. One that has been very interactive for my family. It’s been the main topic of many walks to and from the bus stop for us over the years.

It’s not my typical kind of project, but I’ve shared pieces of it with you over the years here on my site.

I’ve been working really hard over these past years on improving my writing craft, developing my story lines, and shaping myself to mold into you’re typical fiction author. Only I’m not sure I’ll ever fit into the mold. And I know I’m not the only fiction author out there struggling to find their “fit” among readers.

But there is only one way to find out…put it out there so I can get your feedback.

So this is what I’ve got planned so far this year.

MARCH 2016 — Planet Mitch: The Lost Star (A series for young readers ages 7-10).

APRIL 2016 – Unbridled (Book 2 of the Silver Wind Trilogy). A New Adult inspirational Romance.

JUNE 2016 – Planet Mitch: The Black Eyed Galaxy (Book 2 in the Planet Mitch young reader series)

 

Then there will be…

THE THIMBLE BRIDE (Book 2 in the Brides of Annie Creek Novella Series)

and possibly one or two other titles to be announced in the future.

As you can see, it’s going to be an ambitious year. I’d best get to writing.

Leveling Up on Writing

My kids have all become video game junkies. They are always getting excited when they “level up” on a game. If you know anything about video games you know that usually in order to move up a level you have to earn points or accomplishing something to gain the higher level.

This year, I’ve decided it’s time for this girl to level up on her writing.

As a person who works a part-time job, raising three kids, helps family and friends, operates an etsy shop (or 3), and so on… you can image how difficult it can get to find time to write.

My kids on the other hand, they know their priorities: Homework, Chores, video games. They complain all the time about how horrible life is. They have no idea.

This year I’m taking a lesson from my kids. I’m learning to prioritize. Instead of spending hours on how to write, researching literary agents or publishers, getting lost in Pintrest or Facebook or Instagram, I’m going to spend that time writing.

Over the years I’ve poured myself into reading blogs and books on writing, on blogging, on creating a web presence and watching videos to learn everything I could. I attended Michael Hyatt’s Platform University for over a year.

I highly recommend to anyone who wants to write to spend a good portion of time learning the craft of writing in their desired genre.

Then, like me, there comes the time when you just have to write. You never stop learning and in order to get better you must DO (one of my words this year.) the writing. You must rewrite, try writing something new, try writing from another POV, and find your voice.

I know there will be days I won’t get to write and I’m good with that. I’ve got other commitments that will trump my writing, but I’m leveling up my writing this year and boosting it up on my priority list.

Starting with the ones I should have finished a long time ago.

We all have something that is a work-in-progress, including ourselves. What is yours?

Step 1: The Consolidating Begins

Everything always comes in threes.

So as I’m looking at this year and trying to plan how to put my my three words into perspective, I see all the piles of stuff I’ve got going on: things I haven’t finished, and things I want to do vs need to do it only makes sense to pick three. It sounds easier than done. Trust me.

The big question this week is how to narrow down those things and find three?

It’s an experiment of sorts. Finding what works and doesn’t work is an individual journey we all have to take on our own. Unfortunately, what works for one doesn’t always apply to another.

You can only find out by trail and error. So I sat down and wrote myself a list today. This is a little how my list looks: husband, kids, kid activities, part-time job, etsy shops (3), board member for writing association & treasurer duties, bookkeeping, assisting with social media, website design, ebook formatting and publication, creative endeavors, travel to see family, and then writing.

If I broke this all down into details the list would be more than a handwritten page long.

As I look at the list I’ve decided the best way to reinvest and untangle this year in order to do what I need to do to move forward in 2016 is to consolidate in order to begin the process of simplifying my life.

Consolidation plan #1 – I have three etsy shops currently. For the past several years this has been a source of income for me and my family. I realize though, that having three spreads me too thin and so over these next few months I’ve set the goal of by the end of the year my three shops will become one. (I’ll share a little more about my shops and update you on the process as the year goes on.)

Consolidation plan #2 – While I would love to be able to do all things for all persons, there isn’t enough of me to go around. So I’ve made a calendar this year with one day of the week for just for me time. I can craft those days, read a book, hang with a friend, write, do what ever to re-energize myself. And another day of the week for helping others. When those days for helping others are filled I can do no more. Saying “No” will be the hardest struggle I have this year, but I know it will make me and those who seek my assistance stronger in the long run.

Consolidation plan #3 – Time to move on. We’ve had our home for sale for almost a year. All the time I spend on the road traveling to see family can wear a girl down. Not to mention ranks up a lot mileage on the family taxi. We’ve out grown our home in many ways and are praying and hoping for our home to sell so we can relocate in this new year. With that being said, it’s time to declutter and let go of what we no longer need. It’s not only about the stuff in our house, but memories and relationships, too.

Here’s to step one of making 2016 the best year yet.

featured photo credit ArTeTeTrA via flickrr creative commons

 

Three Little Words for 2016

Every year I tell myself I’m going to do all the usually things we do at the beginning of the new year. I’m going to lose weight, declutter my house, and set a goal to accomplish something.

Then I pick a word. One word to become the theme of my year. One word that will keep me motivated and help me to accomplish said things above. For the past few years that word hasn’t changed and maybe that’s why I haven’t moved forward in accomplishing my goals at the speed I would have liked. Or maybe I didn’t choose the right word.

This year, with a little inspiration from Chris Brogan, I’ve decided to pick three.

Yep, three little words that will describe the kind of year I plan to have. Three words that will inspire and give me hope as I go forward into what this year has lying in wait for me.

Those words are:

Pretty strange words right?

1. Reinvest – I will reinvest in my efforts in all areas of my life that matter to me. This means prioritizing and scrapping more things off my life’s plate that are taking up room to spending time invest in my family, my writing, and take better care of my well being.

2. Untangle – I am no longer going to allow fear and criticism to get in the way of going forward in my life. I will start taking control of my ADHD life and focus on the few things I do well instead of lots of things and hardly succeeding in them. I want shed the things holding me back from having a clear and simple perspective in my personal and business life. This past year has shown me there really isn’t enough of me to go around.

3. Do – It means more than work. It’s a command to follow through. If I’m doing then I’m trying. If I’m trying then I’m moving forward. Failure look out, I’m still going to plow right through and get things done. To not do anything. To not try and fail. Well… that’s not who I want to be. No more day dreaming or planning out on paper or sketches of what is to come. To do is to make it happen.

2016 is going to happen.

I’m looking forward to it, how about you?

 

 

Free eBook Today!

Life never happens the way we expected. Like this week. Our Thanksgiving with family had to be postponed until this weekend due to a family illness.

While the men in my family are out hunting, many of us women are online hunting deals for gifts this holiday season.

I have a gift for all of you.

Today, the first story of the Annie’s Creek Novella’s series is FREE at Amazon to download for your holiday reading pleasure. Treat yourself to this sweet inspirational story.

 

Download FREE on Amazon 

Today only. Returns to regular price on December 1, 2015

Please share with your friends!

Happy Hunting!

#amblessed by all of you

I spent the day strumming out 5,000 words after a week of what I’d like to call “think and peck” it’s where I write a few words a day. Today, however, I hit my stride and I still have several more scenes that could come to life at my fingertips if my wrists weren’t complaining.

It’s my own fault. I’m a lazy writer. I have this bad habit of resting my hands down on my keyboard instead of holding them up the proper way while I type. I’m sure I’ll pay for it later when I’m older and hopefully by then developers will have come out with a more accurate talk to text program. Only problem is, I’ve never been good with talking out a scene in a recorder, it always just flows from my mind to my fingertips into my story.

This month I’ve hit over 30,000 words.

And no, I am not participating in NanoWrimo this year (national write a novel in a month). Although, with all the re-writes and add ins I’ve put into this novel, I probably could have.

It’s funny how you start out with the goal of editing a manuscript and end up revising and rewriting it because of one scene or one chapter.

Yeah, it was that moment when you get down to having one chapter left and you’re like, “YES! I am so going to get this done!” Then as you write what you think is that last chapter of the story and it doesn’t end the way you planned.

That’s what happened.

Oh, I planned out the scene. I knew how it needed to end, but then in my head I heard my character and all of you readers saying, “That was too convenient. That was too easy.”

So, I left the chapter take me where it wanted to go…. to another chapter… and another chapter.

And I’m so happy it did.

Writing is a journey for the writer as much as it is for the reader. It’s not until we get to those last few words that we know where the story was going to go. And the words are very rarely — The End.

I admit, if not for all of you asking and holding me accountable to finishing this book I’m not sure I would have gotten this far.

THANK YOU.

I appreciate you for always being here. You keep me accountable and remind me why I write and bring out the joy that is the blessing of having all of you lifting me up and supporting me through this journey.

Even my son’s best friend’s mother asked me if I’d finished that last chapter as she came and picked up her son at our home. It was that feel good moment when someone acknowledges something is important enough to you for them to ask.

And there are many more of you who ask, and all of you are important to me.

UNBRIDLED is headed off to my editor and my selected Beta readers.

I’ll keep you updated when it returns to me for the final proofing. I’ll be sending out my newsletter this week with a special download for those of you subscribed.

If you’re also interested in becoming one of my future beta readers, be sure to sign up for my newsletter to receive invitations for the next opportunity.

In the meantime, enjoy your time this week with your families.

blog photo credit: qoutesgram.com

Writer’s Hiatus in 2015

To say the past few months have been busy is an understatement. More like a tornado that lifted me up and I’m just now getting settled back down on my feet.

In May, my husband broke his wrists in a motorcycle accident. Our anniversary plans were cancelled and my June travels became a lot more stressful with worrying about taking care of him, managing our household, and caring for the kiddos. And.. we’ve had our home on the market since April, hoping and praying, it would sell before the new year so we can move back closer to family.

In addition to that, I’ve been out getting to know you all on the weekends at book festivals, fall festivals, and summer craft fairs. Needless to say, the “new” mom taxi I got for Christmas last year just turned over with and added 20,000 miles of traveling I’ve put on it in less than a year.

Time to take a deep breath yet?

My sciatica in my back decided to flare up late July and thanks to 8 weeks of physical therapy and a great referral, I’m back to walking and sitting without hardly any pain. Makes it much easier to write and take care of a household for sure.

As many of you know, my dad recently had surgery.He’s doing well, and I want to thank all of you for your kind words, prayers, and offers of support these past few months. My family appreciates them as well.

My husband’s wrists have now healed and he’s ready to get back on a motorcycle next spring. I have a feeling we’ll be motorcycle shopping very soon.

It’s October, the past few months feel like a blur. I know I’m behind on keeping site updated and I’ve not been on social media a whole lot. Forgive me, I’m looking at my really long to-do list and slowly making my way down it.

Then I look at the calendar again and realize I’ve missed some deadlines and the holidays are fast approaching.

Which leads me to my decision.

I’m taking a hiatus for the rest of the year.

What does this mean?

I’m cutting back my traveling. Just once a month trips to the farm to see my family and of course Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I’m not going to be posting every week here on the blog. I’m taking the extra time to finish the edits on Unbridled and get it to my editor. I have been reminded twice now that she isn’t getting any younger. I’ve started writing bits and pieces of the next book in the Annie Creek Series and I’ll send out the first chapter to you all soon.

As far as Nanowrimo goes this year, we’ll see. I’ve got a great steampunk YA idea from the days I spent hanging out at the hospital in Pittsburgh, PA for my dad’s surgery. As you know Pittsburgh is know for its steel and steam punk settings need metal, gears, and steam to work. It’s a thought in process.

Now to tackle the house, give my car a rest, and spend some quality time with my husband and kiddos.

I’ll still be sending out my newsletter and I’ll post on here, just not every week. You can also find me on the fourth Tuesday of the month over at Inspireafire.com, too. Which reminds me, I’ve got to get writing!!

If this blog post today has said anything to you between my ramblings, know how appreciative I am for all of you.

Thank you all for your support and just being the best tribe a gal could have.

Now to find me an Apple Spice Chai.. my new fall indulgence.

Dear Motorcyclist

I know the past few weeks have been hot ones. I know it’s too hot to want to wear jackets and extra layers over your shorts or jeans. But I also know what happens when you don’t.

I’m married to a motor safety instructor. He doesn’t just teach it, he lives on his motorcycle — all but the days it’s too cold or too much snow or ice to ride.

It’s economical, and I get it… motorcycles are cool. They bring out the rebel in us and are attractive because of their daring and dangerous nature.

That’s why you have to stay safe.

Most motorcycle accidents are not caused by the motorcyclist but other cars and trucks out there sharing the roadways. They forget there are two wheels out there on the roadways along side them. Most times they don’t look. However, it doesn’t mean as a motorcycle operator that you shouldn’t still use your whits and protect your best asset. Yes, I’m talking about you.

Motorcycles can be replaced.

The people who drive them and ride on them are one of a kind.

Just because it may not be a law, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect yourself. We clothe our children with protective gear and helmets for sports and riding a bicycle, mom and dad you are no different.  When you straddle all that horsepower, be smart. Be safe. You are important.

Wear a helmet.

Wear a jacket.

Wear protective pants.

Have you ever seen road rash? Go ahead Google it.  Not pretty. While you’re at it, look up the stories of many who have experienced it and survived. Painful? I don’t know. I don’t want to find out either.

Have I ever ridden a motorcycle? Absolutely.

Have I ever driven a motorcycle. Yes, I have.

And I’ve been blessed to meet so many other men and women who have shared their joys,fears, and experiences on motorcycles. Not every motorcycle story ends happy.

Last May, my husband was driving home from teaching motorcycle safety one evening on his motorcycle. A young college student pulled out in front of my husband. I still cringe when I think of this happening. I remind myself how blessed we were to that my husband was able to walk away from the accident with broken wrists.

An ER doctor told my husband if not for his protective gear he would have been hurt much worst than he was. Another medical specialist, told us that motorcycles are often referred to a “murder-cycles” in the medical community due to the fatalities from accidents.

While summer is not officially over, fall weather still remains for a few more weeks of good motorcycle weather. I can’t guarantee that like wearing a seat belt it will always save a life, I do know it’s safer.

And you, dear motorcyclist are the only one who can make the decision on wearing that helmet and appropriate coverings to protect yourself for that one time you weren’t expecting to get in an accident.

If not for you, think of those who love you.

Feature photo credit: motorcyclessonsbrisbane.com.au