S.L. Perrine's Blog, page 11

Troy High School does the Nae Nae Challenege

‘Is it just me…’ take 3

‘Is it just me…’

Good afternoon, or whatever your time of day is. I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving, and for those who don’t celebrate, I hope you have had a nice weekend thus far.

I made plans to sit down today and write a bit. I have been given news that I am being offered a contract for publishing, and the idea of editing book three at this point, when I know I have to start at book one all over…kinda made me loose interest in it. If I finish it, I will just act like an impatient child and self pub again, cause I’m so excited to get it out to the few readers I have.  So I started paying a bit more attention to my romance novel, but I’m just not into it. I don’t know if it’s the holiday coming or if I may just decide to scrap writing romance altogether.

I think that may be a topic for another day…

I have to say I really enjoy spending time with people, however, I rarely get the opportunity to do so. I feel like I spent so many years wrapped up in a closed shell and never really expressed myself. I think that may have something to do with how my relationships with people are now.

Do we all look back and think, ‘If only I had been a bit more open, maybe I’d be different now?’

Yeah…I don’t either. However, when I see an old friend on Facebook really enjoying life, I can’t help but to wonder why I don’t try to. I sat down and pondered this for a whole 2.2 seconds…yes, that’s how long it took me to figure out the answer to my own question.

It’s simply this…

I am who I am. I enjoy staying home with my face buried in a book reading, writing and simply enjoying time with the husband and my munchkins. I’m not really a fan of heavily drinking, or the club/bar scene. I spend what money I have after paying bills on my kids and that’s ok. I’d like to visit with family more often, but usually my ‘down’ time is spent running around doing other stuff.

However, I have gotten to a point in life, that I have noticed a few friends that I just don’t see/talk to anymore. Some of them were constants for a while, because we worked together or lived close to each other. But now they have new people that they talk to and hang out with. I get a little saddened by it, but then I think to myself, if they wanted to keep in contact, they could have done so. I have to stop putting all the pressure on myself.

So, I dedicate this #3 segment to all the friends who made a difference in who I am, and didn’t stick around to enjoy me.

I don’t know what people expect these days…I mean I barely call my own parents.

Is is just me… or do we all need a little reminder that we are not the only ones who affect our relationships with other people. Just as a marriage is 50/50, I believe …so is a friendship.

And if anyone believes otherwise, just remember…your reading this on the internet…so it must be true! :)

 

~Happy Reading!

 

‘Is it just me…’

I had so much fun doing the first post last week for this, I didn’t think I would be able to wait an entire week before doing a second. Just as I was about to start this post I had to stop the pat on the back for actually waiting, because in all actuality I am a day early…lol

Christmas is coming!! Yes, I’m aware you all know this…but as my husband and I were discussing our children the other day and how they have been this year, since we are weighing the options of getting them a somewhat expensive gift to share this year (I find it stressful to shop for teenagers, who want nothing!).

In the past few weeks, before Thanksgiving is even close, everything has gone back to the ‘Happy Holiday’ vs ‘Merry Christmas’.

Saying you have no opinion on the matter is like saying you don’t believe in the existence of oxygen. Saying you don’t mind either, would be more accurate. I prefer to say Merry Christmas, as that is what I celebrate, and if you celebrate something different, feel free to say it to me.

A few weeks ago, I was speaking to a woman, regarding the Starbucks ‘red’ cups. I have no idea what the hell they were talking about, ‘Our new red cup.’ Was there an old red cup? I have only ever bought Starbucks once in my life, and that was this past May on the way back from a week long trip to Bermuda without proper coffee.

So I was talking to this woman and she was ‘outraged‘, by the fact that this cup has changed…Really??? It’s a cup… you use it to hold hot liquids in it. I had to ask her if she saved one from each season, and if she was missing a few from her collection.

I went home and googled…Starbucks holiday cups. I really did. Once I was satisfied that there was an actual design change, I gave up on it…went down to my Dunkin Donuts, were the girls no my order when my car pulls up to the drive threw and got my coffee. I didn’t even know what their holiday design is, and I drink it everyday. I knew enough that the colors change in the Christmas Season, but no idea the thing says JOY, with a big snowflake around it.

So, now I’ve realized I just spent days paying way to much attention to a DISPOSABLE coffee cup, days I can never get back. Is it really that big of a deal? Why not save the world a bit of litter and have a big huge conversation about the use of paper and foam cups, and why people don’t just buy a travel mug.

Is it just me, or do people just complain about the smallest of things, just to cause controversy and upheaval? Does anyone really care that much about a cup?

I think Starbucks did the drastic cup change to cause such a commotion. It gives them attention during a busy holiday season. It’s a great marketing tool, I’ll give them that.

Starbucks customers have all probably finished their Christmas shopping…gift cards to Starbucks, and assorted Starbucks coffee mugs and coffee by the pound.

Just remember I drink Dunkin…Pumkin, just cream.

 

 

 

Book Three …Complete

Not entirely, but I have completed the writing part. I am going to begin on the first round of edits this weekend…yay!!

This time around I will have to figure out a release party, cover reveal and such. First I’d like to extend a hand outward to anyone who would like to BETA read it for me. I’d love some feedback before releasing this one, so I can work the kinks out first. I am still re-editing book one, with some help, Thanks Jill Turner for the spare eyes.

I’m really excited for Book Three, I put a lot into it and there is so much going on now in the story. The characters are really coming into their own, and developing in ways I hadn’t imagined they would when I put the first outline together for the series.

I was getting frustrated with sales and such and wanted to wrap up the entire story in book three and make it a trilogy, but to be honest, the story just isn’t over. It would have come out feeling rushed, and I don’t want that. This series is directed towards young adults, my 12 year old is reading it right now. So I don’t want a 12 year old to look at the size of a book (Harry Potter sized) and give up on reading it before they even crack the binding. The outline where it is currently, this series will have a minimum of five books, with a possibility for a sixth(maybe the antagonists perspective of the end). :)

Please feel free to comment below if you are interested in BETA reading Maga’s a Beast after the first round of editing it completed.

Thanks guys

~Happy Reading

‘Is it Just me…’

So, I had this idea about constructing a weekly piece titled, ‘Is it just me…’ but when it came to topics in which to write about I fell short.

I have tossed up the idea of ranting on the trials and tribulations of trying to ignore your neighbors, and their bad habits. My next idea was to make it a post regarding my week in a nut-shell, but that seemed very ‘Dear Diary,’ to me. My last idea was to use it as an outlet to vent about current events.

Then the light bulb went off inside my head, like those commercial ads you see on TV. I thought, ‘who cares what I write about. If they like it…they will read it.’ So my weekly, Is it just me…” will essentially be all of the above… :)

So the moral of this story is, I hope this first post doesn’t bore you to tears and make you regret wasting, however long it takes you to read it. Also, if you do like it, maybe you (the reader) could share me with others.

~Happy Reading

‘Is it just me…’

I live in a relatively okay neighborhood, in a three story brownstone. I recently went out of my way to go to a store, not easily ventured to, to get those felt padded, self-stick thingies for the underside of my dinning room chairs. Not that their is anyone living under us at the moment, but because I hate the sound of a chair pulled across hard wood. It’s almost as bad as nails on a chalk board, or when my kids rake their forks across their plates to annoy me (yes, I have mean spirited teenage boys).

Well, now all of my chairs nicely glide across the floor, and what do I hear? My neighbors upstairs loudly scrapping chair legs across their floor. Well, that was it…that one thing had me noticing everything they do, without thought to those living below them.

Last night, as I laid in bed, at almost midnight… I couldn’t help to cringe each time I heard the, tap, tap, tap of high-heeled shoes rapping on my ceiling. Who really needs to walk around their kitchen in heels? I laid their and pondered this question more avidly as I heard the washer start it’s spin cycle. I should mention here that each floor has their very one washer and dryer hook up, and it’s in the kitchen.

Of course the writer in me is picturing this woman traipsing around in her kitchen, at midnight mind you, wearing high-heeled shoes while doing laundry.

I don’t know if their is an actual story to be had there, but she may very well inspire a character in the future. One that may or may not have a bandanna tied to a knot at the top of her head, and a big mole on her upper lip. She walks around in carpi pants, a flannel shirt tied at the waist and high-heeled shoes. I have a picture in my head, and if I was a better artist I’d probably try to draw her out.

Is it just me… or do we all have that one person in our surroundings that may not be an essential part of our daily lives, but you just want to go up to and shake their hand, say ‘Thank you for that inspiration,’ and walk away.

Yeah, me neither…

A Goodreads.com Holiday Giveaway

I’m proud to be a part of this Holiday giveaway sponsored by Angela C. on Goodreads.com. There are 24 books so far contributed for the winners of this giveaway including all 3 of my published titles:

The Beast within

The Curse of Ormshire – The Beast Within Book Two

Open at Sunrise

Take a look and enter to win!

~Happy Reading!

Re: https://www.facebook.com/events/1818429441717180/

It’s Holiday Time

Readers!

I am starting up a special giveaway for this holiday season!

What: Grand Book Giveaway. Multiple authors are contributing their books to this giveaway!

When: Now! Drawing will be held on 18 December 2015

Details are here: http://www.angelabchrysler.com/holiday-drawing/

Authors! I am accepting books right up until the giveaway ends. If you would like to enter a book for the giveaway, paperback or eBook please email me at angelabchrysler@yahoo.com. On the 18th there will be a Book Giveaway party with takeover events! Sign up here below! Slots will become available as needed :)

Blog Refreshed

Hello all!

I have finally, actually sat down and refreshed my blog page. Taking away valuable hours of writing…since I’ve been on a roll, it was ok.

I’ve recently been trying to find time to write as I had before the summer fun started. I had planned on doing all of this once the munchkins went back to school. However, my hubby had a work related injury which has kept him home for the better part of two months now, and he likes spending time together. More recently I had to set time aside for writing, to which hubby has been super supportive with.

With that being said, I have made pretty good leeway with book three. Unfortunately, I have been turned to the attention of book one, which has some dreadfully missed errors (I need a second pair of eyes when it comes to editing, I went through that thing four times).

So, while I continue to work on book three, I guess I will be re-reading book one, and then book two…might as well, to fix those unfortunate errors.

I am happy to announce  I have started a second romance novel, but I have no real definitive time as far as a completion date is concerned. I am hoping to be ready for the first round of edits on Maga’s a Beast … book three…by late December.

Well, that’s all… and as always…

~Happy Reading!

SL

Sneak Peek Time: Book Three – Maga’s a Beast… or is it a Dragon?

The noxious odor threated her senses with each step she took. She knew nothing of what she would see when she were to finally lay eyes upon him.

She saw his eyes first. They glowed like red flames of a fire. Then she gasped at the size of him. He more than filled the space he had in the throne room, and more than likely refused to leave it for fear of destroying his castle and everyone in it. He slithered, more than walked, across the small rise of the room where his throne may have sat before his cursed days. His head hung low, so as not to get hung up on the rafters. Karen watched as he moved on all four, dragging behind him a snake like tail covered in scales and spikes which extended up his back side and along his long neck. He snapped his head back as he caught a bird in his mouth and swallowed it whole. Karen grimaced as he brought his long clawed foot up to his mouth to pick a feather from between his pointed teeth.

A gust of wind swept through the room, pushing the stench of him onto Karen, forcing her to gulp a breath into her lungs. She hadn’t realized, until she choked on it, that she had been holding her breath.

She exhaled long and hard as she noticed where the wind had come from. Large wings moved behind Ourobus as he belched from his fast flying meal. His scales started to glow black and gold as he looked upon her and opened his mouth as if he would swallow her in one bite as well. He drew in a breath and as he started to speak to her a stream of billowing smoke escaped his mouth. Karen stepped back, fearful of what he might do, when a shudder flew through her as the heat of flames licked her skin. She looked up and Ourobus was breathing flames of fire out of the windows of the large room. She noticed then that they were now free of glass.

“Excuse me,” he choked back, “where are my manors? May I offer you something to eat?” He asked snatching up a small birds nest from the sill of the window. “No?” He threw the nest to the floor and stomped on it with a roaring laughter, which turned into another bought of coughing up smoke.

She remembered the smell, how could she not… it still held in the fabric that she wore. It reeked of burnt wood and maybe even flesh, she couldn’t be sure. She hadn’t dared to wonder how many had gotten just a few feet too close to him.

He spoke to her in brief spurts, but his message was clear. He knew of the plans to reunite his son with her daughter, and he was happy for it. He wanted the curse lifted, as he despised his beast form.

Karen got much information out of him that day. Ourobus had a gathering of maga, just waiting for the curse to be lifted so they could give him all their power to defeat the one who was prophesized to defeat him. In the meantime he would use them to destroy the princess and bring his son back to him, to be his prince and rule by his side. She knew his plans would include taking all of Pylira, including killing her and Rowan, but she still hung to the hope that his plans would fail.

Sibling of the World Award

A huge Thank You to Mike Wolff for the nomination. Here are my questions. This was fun!

Orange or Green…Why?

Green, because when I think of Thursday I see green… it’s payday. :)  Orange just makes me hungry.

2. Paper or Plastic…Why? 

I could say paper and be the role model for recycling, but I’ll say paper because you can’t doodle on plastic.

3. Fantasy, Science Fiction or Horror…Why?

Fantasy… Horror is fun, but my mind is all rainbows and glitter. Science fiction is cool too, but I can’t wrap my head around black holes.

I like to read and watch fantasy because I feel like I’m pulled into the story. I’ve only just begun writing fantasy, and so far I don’t think I’m half bad at it. I suppose I could be better, but honestly there is room for improvement in everything we do.

4. If you had to describe your writing style as an animal, what would it be?

Right now I would say a Phoenix. When I’m into writing and nothing else is going on, it’s a thing of beauty (my opinion), but when my ‘real life’ starts to cloud my brain my writing seems to die off. Then the real world stuff gets solved or resolved and my writing improves. I like it though, because it causes the dark parts of the story to come alive.

5. If you could chose a super power to have, what would it be and why?

I never really thought about this one before. I think I would like the ability to control the moods of others. It would be so much easier to drive in central NY with that ability…lol

6. Who is your favorite literary character and why?

I’ve never thought about this one either. If I have to choose, I guess it would be Katniss Everdeen. She’s a strong willed girl/woman, who started a revolution just by being a selfless human. She gained hundreds of followers and respect from people just by being what everyone wishes the humans of our world would be… She doesn’t whine or complain about what life handed her, but she strives to make life better for everyone once she realizes she has a voice, and that people are listening.

7. What is you favorite sandwich?

Turkey and provolone with a little bit of REAL mayonnaise and romaine lettuce. Then throw some rippled potato chips on top.

8. A fairy, a robot and a zombie walk into a bar…what happens next?

The fairy whips out her wand and makes the robot and Zombie do the twist to a jukebox playing Let it go!

9. How many books do you read a year…roughly?

Wow, that’s tough. It depends how deeply I’m into writing. I try to get through one a week, but depending on size and time it may be a two week book or two books in a week. I read a lot!

Then there are weeks I only write because its all I can think of until it’s done. So my final answer is between 30 & 50 :)

10. Social Media: a great tool for the Indie Artist or a hindrance to creation?

I think it could be both. I get noticed when I post, but then I’m all over it when I should be writing. I don’t think social media works for everyone as far as sales go. I have a lot of followers, but very minimal sales.

The official rules of this award are:

Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog in your post
Answer the questions that the blogger who nominated you has provided.
Nominate ten other bloggers (or up to 10).
Create ten questions for your nominees and notify them of their nominations.

My Nominations:

Chad Dennis

Lorna George

Jill Turner

Nikki Yager

Rick Rossing

Kieth A Manuel

Bryan Fields 

Rachel Bostwick

My Questions:

What made you start writing?
How do you commit to the entire process of writing (writing, editing, proofing, editing…ect)?
Which do you think is more important in a protagonist? Personality or Depth of character? (reading or writing)
Do you read when you get writer’s block, and what is your ‘go-to’ genre?
How many siblings do you have? What number are you?
Where do you get your inspiration for you stories?
Ever played ‘hop-scotch’?
What’s your dream destination vacation?
How many books do you own? (not written)
Which do you do first, watch the movie or read the book?

Have Fun Folks!

Free book week!!!

The Curse of Ormshire is free through Thursday for kindle on Amazon.com

The Beast Within is only $.99

Get your copy today…why wait!