The Seven Deadly...

...Key Commands.


Ha! Thought I was gonna say something like "Sins," didn't you? (or "Zins" if you're a wine-oh)


Well, Ben sent this to me, and I thought it was hilarious. It was also very appropriate because I've been spending a ton of time pinning down my characters' flaws for book 2. Why couldn't it just be this straight forward?

My one is "wrath." What's yours? :D

On another, happier note, today is Pay It Forward Friday! (Thanks Matt and Alex for hosting) The idea is to introduce all of us to everyone else, and I'm to link to three blogs you guys should check out. SO HARD PICKING ONLY THREE! 


1. Peggy Eddleman - She's got some of the most entertaining posts about writing, and has such a unique perspective! Plus, she likes to be mean and throw in pictures of cookies all the time which really challenges my morning diet...


2. Ashley Nixon - I just love her to pieces! She's got such an awesome attitude about, well, everything and writes tons of good posts about writing and finding inspiration for stories (something we all need at times). Go say hello!


3. Julie Tuovi - Another awesome and energetic blogger I wish I could keep in my pocket. She's got a lot of great insight on writing and is a great resource for blogfests and contests.


4. Cherie - Now, I'm a new-ish follower of her, but she's fabulous! Very encouraging and supportive, and writes a tone about writing and is also a great resource for blogfests and contests.


(yes, i know i listed four. it's not in my nature to follow directions...at least not very well...)


Remember, it's never too late to join the blogfest...and please, go pay a visit to the bloggers above.


Happy Friday!

Blogfests, and Blogging, and Merlin...OH MY!

Today's post is a melting pot - so many things to say. (Melting pot is wrong. They're all sort of different. How about jambalaya? I like jambalaya. Mmmmm....)

First, I've reached 100 Followers! Thank YOU for being such a wonderful and supportive blogging community, and for reading along and leaving awesome comments. I learn SO much from you! *BIG GIANT HUGS* Now, I've got to think of something to celebrate the occasion... TO BE CONTINUED! :D

Next up, Merlin. If you have not seen the BBC show, Merlin, DO IT! I rarely watch TV (no TV channels. Yeah, the hubby and I sorta live in the dark ages), but we Netflix'd this and COULD. NOT. STOP. WATCHING. Here's the new Season 4 trailer (if you are really annoyed by pixelation, HQ version is on their Facebook page). I particularly like the soundtrack:





Also, Alex J. Cavanaugh, has a couple of upcoming blogfests. There's:

1. Insecure Writer's Support Group - It's a place for writers to support and encourage each other. You know, like those times our imaginary friends frustrate us so much we start threatening them with erasers and delete keys? The blogfest will be held on the first Wednesday of every month. Go check it out!

2. Pay it Forward Blogfest - The idea is to introduce all of us to everyone else. This "social" event shall commence on October 14.

And, as you know, I just released my book, GAIA'S SECRET last week! I've been AMAZED and HONORED by how completely supportive you all have been, downloading and leaving comments. THANK YOU! If you're interested, I've got a blog interview with the one and only Ashley Nixon (if you don't know her, she's incredible! go check her out...) about GAIA, and you can find the interview HERE.

Now that the dust is finally settling, I feel like my brain is free to finish working on the sequel to Gaia (3/4 done with draft 0.5!) *wipes brow* While I love being back at the drawing board, I've developed a motto. I'm sure some of you can relate: Never trust a blank page. They look all sparkly and new, but they have too many plot-strings attached.

I love mottos. Do any of you have any current mottos you'd like to share?????

Have a wonderful Sunday, and happy writing!

BLOG AWARDS!...(and a brief German lesson.)

Gosh, it feels like Christmas!...with book giveaways and blog awards all wrapped in pretty digital red bows. (No tinsel, please. Not even digital tinsel. That stuff gets everywhere.)

Monday pushed me out of bed and kicked me in the face, and lo! One of my favorite bloggers, the amazing Peggy Eddleman  left me one of those digitally wrapped presents (without tinsel) - the Liebster award, which spotlights up and coming bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers.

(German lesson: "liebster" basically means "dearest" - a term for close friends. Oh, and just so you know, the word "liebling" means "favorite." So see, it kinda makes since...okay, maybe I'm giving more details than you really care. I like foreign languages.)

See, look. It's pretty:

Now I get to play Santa (see, I told you. Christmas!) and pass them around with good tidings (and no tinsel)!

Here are the rules:

(1) Thank the giver (Thanks, Peggy, you're attitude is awesome!...but you really need to stop posting pictures of cookies in the morning...) and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
(2) Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
(3) Copy and paste the award on your blog.
(4) Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
(5) And most of all - have bloggity-blog fun!

So here's my list, and please go visit these great people!

1. Laura Josephsen - One of my favorite people/bloggers/writers (can someone please invent a term that encompasses all of these things?) She's an awesome writer who blogs a lot about writing and her experiences with publishing.

2.  Donna K. Weaver - So Donna doesn't really fit the <200, BUT her posts about writing and grammar (THANK YOU!) and everything else pertaining to the literary world is awesome!

3.  Lindsay N. Currie - She's got such a beautiful blog! And she writes a ton of great posts about writing and the writing community.

4. Beth at Of Muses and Meringues - Um, food AND books AND travel? Exploding from too much goodness...

5. Julie at From Pen to Paper - I love the way Julie writes - about writing, about books, about, well, everything! Her posts are so fun to read.

And We Have a WINNER!!

Well.

It was sooooo hard for me to choose. The comments you guys left were fabulous! (If you missed out, you can read them here.) And I must thank you because I smiled and laughed, reading all of your answers :) So, THANK YOU! You guys are awesome.

But, alas! Laura's only given me "rights" to ONE book. *nudge nudge* Laura? :)

And the winner is...

Wait for it...

*cues drum roll*

CHRIS PHILLIPS

Who, poor sap, was actually stripped of his award. Read his confession for yourselves...


"I was stripped of my Professor of the Year award at Hogwarts for perfecting a Patron-Us charm that turns water into Patron'. Mr. Filch is sleeping in for some strange reason."


Thanks to everyone who participated...I had so much fun reading. :)

Hot Bloggers!..amidst other things...

Hello everyone!

It's been a crazy week(s) and, unfortunately, my blog has suffered for it. No time to post and read and comment on all of your wonderful posts. :( Please forgive me! Moving and transitioning between jobs is catching up with me. Thought I'd let you know that I haven't fallen in a hole somewhere, nor have I been held hostage by my characters (though they've tried...they're sorely neglected at the moment).

Aside of all things crazy, I wanted to say "thanks" to Kristine Asselin over at Writing. For Real. for giving me this very HOT award... *sweats*

And now I shall pass it onward to some great friends and followers!

Christine Arnold
PK Hrezo
T.D. McFrost
Julie Tuovi
Sari Webb
Alex Azar

Happy writing & blogging, and I hope to join you all again soon!

Some Irresistible and Stylish Awards...

A big "thanks" goes out to Christine Arnold for passing on the Irresistibly Sweet Award, and to Sari Webb for handing me the Stylish Blogger Award! But now, I guess  I'm supposed to mention seven things about myself.

Hmm...(stop yawning!)

1. I need at least one cup of coffee every day to function.

2. I never experienced an allergic reaction until last summer...when I purchased (and used) Costco's body wash.

3. Cold and rainy weather is my favorite climate. Did you know that I'm moving to Phoenix this summer?

4. I'm not Italian, but I wish I was.
5. All my life I was insecure about my height of 5'9". Then I met my 6'5" husband (the love of my life).
6. I've played the piano since I was 5 years old. Classically trained. But I can't write a piece to save my life.
7. My love for my dog has extended itself to all creatures. If I find a bug in the house, instead of killing it, I put it back outside.

NOW! The important part. Paying it forward! These are some blogs you guys should definitely check out--they discuss all of our favorite things. Like writing, writing, and more writing!

I'd like to pass on the Irresistibly Sweet Award to Sari Webb at Confessions of an Aspiring Author. She posts a lot of interesting blogs about writing and publishing.

Also, to Beth Polluck at Of Muses and Meringues. She blogs about my three favorite things: writing, traveling, and food.

 And, I'd like to pass on the Stylish Blogger Award to Becky Wallace at What's your thought on that? She's always got a great attitude and blogs a lot about the writing process.


Enjoy!

Blogging...

I'm going to try to not be offended by this...

I Caved.

BLOGGING. (Biting fingernails...) Here I go. Kicking and screaming (thanks Ben) into the world of online journaling. For so long I've resisted. What do you write about? Does anyone really care? The answer to that: who knows.

So I'm finding out for myself. Going to see what 'blogging' is all about. Keep a record of life as it happens to me. And life as it doesn't happen.

Now if I can just figure out how to work this thing...