Beginning of a good week...

Its been a weird week, yet highly productive. The writing been good, as the editing too! I feel a great conviction to my writing. But there has been a shadow creeping over everything. Maybe it's the begins of the END OF SUMMER, maybe I am missing long or newly gone friends, or maybe I am just having a week off of my usual jovial self.

I mean, last week was birthday week, lots of fun stuff happened. This week, it was busy as usual and maybe I am missing the thrill of being busy. Music Man auditions are coming in a few weeks, will be stage managing for that. The cats have beaten the yearly bout with fleas (going to stick to a year around treatment to avoid this issue next year. It is clear autumn is not far away, but I am not ready to give up summer, just yet.

This week I was editing my NaNoWriMo Novel and I realized that as I was reading and taking notes, I was finding new snippet, bigger arcs, and more details about the characters. The characters are talking to me again. Feels good. So, question, Dear Readers, do you find that as to read your novels (when revising), or stories, or plays that you find more story to tell, or is it when you are making the edits  that more story reveals itself? Or maybe it is a bit of both? How do you work best at editing? I seem to read along and make notes as I go. But I am curious to hear how you all edit.

Now onto the check-in...

This Week:
      *Reading: making progress on each of the novels. Nothing completed, yet, but I have crossed the halfway mark with The Amber Spyglass (Phillip Pullman), and The Festival of Bones (James A. Owen), and almost to the halfway point of Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey). Seriously, Patience Price is so stubborn, but I really like that in her character. Will have review upon complete of these three books.
threshold on two of them. I am over half done with
      *Writing: wrote Monday (about 700+ words), Tuesday (838 words), and Wednesday (979 words) and this ROW80 post. Pretty proud of that. Going for 5 days this week!
      *Editing: The Real Road Trip, Monday edited 4 pages and Tuesday about 3 pages. It is a daunting project, but I am determined. I want to edits completed by end of August. Will work on typing the edits and fleshing it out in September.
      *Blogging: I posted my WIPpet Wednesday post yesterday, because I was excited to share my other new WIP Modern Muses.
      *Social Media: visited 4 blogs and sponsor duties daily. I am keeping up with this more often and its beginning to become habit now. w00t!!

This (upcoming) Week:
      *Reading: finish The Festival of Bones and Murder Comes Ashore.
      *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words. Not ready to bump it up. I want to solidify that I can consistently write 700+ daily for at least a month.
      *Editing: 4 pages of The Real Road Trip (NaNoWriMo 2014) daily.
      *Blogging: 1 new non-Row 80. I did it earlier this week, let's try again.
      *Submission: 2 new submission. I will figure out why I am not get this goal each week.
      *Social Media: 4 blog visits daily from both ROW80 and WIPpet Wednesday. I missed checking in with those peeps!

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Why don't you join us? Got a blog? Set up some goals and check-in twice a week. Learn a bit about writing, meet some new friends, and write!!! :-) Come on in to the Blog Hop!

Renaissance Faire and Progress

Okay, so I was out and about this weekend and I didn't get much done Friday night until today. But I regret nothing. NOTHING, I SAY!!!

Yesterday was Ren Faire day, she up early and donned the fantastical costumes that Sara made for us, sans wings (we ran out of time). It was a day of turkeys, armoured joists, and bawdy poets and horny monks. I ask you, Dear Readers, if you are from NYS, are you are familiar with the Sterling Renaissance Faire? It's a fun time, but involves A LOT of walking. Daymn!!! The hubs and I took Sara, Ryan, and Kaylara to their first visit. It was a good day!! More pictures to follow...

We be Sexy, Biches!!

This means that nothing got done yesterday, and very little tomorrow. I went to see theatre folk perform Happy Days the Musical. A fun little take of the classic TV show of the same name. Not I am writing this update and completing the long week ahead of me. The evil day job has been keeping me busy during the day. Le sigh!

This Week:

     *Exercise: walked a lot at the Ren Faire on Saturday. I think at about at least 5 to 6 walks. Was very tired by day's end, so I was sufficiently exercised out.
     *House Tending: I am feeling that I am taking better care of the house in the last week. Today I mowed the lawn, finished laundry, and took out the garbage. Also, I trimmed the cat's nails. BONUS POINTS FOR ME!
     *Social Media: visited 4 blogs daily since Wednesday (okay I may have scrunched 8 into today). And I kept up with my sponsor duties. Cpent a little time on twitter.
     *Editing: i may have got to some more pages, but can't remember, so I will leave it alone.
     *Reading: did not finish Murder Comes Shore (Julie Anne Lindsey). I think I am over a third of the way through it though. Spent more time on The Amber Spyglass (Phillip Pullman) and The Festival of Bones (James A. Owen). Festival is a different story than Owen's Imaginarium books, but he has a flare for language and creates some amazing characters. Read most of Thursday away, not a bad choice of the days activities! :-)
      *Writing: wrote my ROW80 post Wednesday. That's it! I feel bad. I want to write 6 days out of the week (at least). Last week was Sunday- ROW80, Monday and Tuesday - Writing blitz and poetry, Wednesday - ROW80. Thursday was recovery from Weird Al, and nothing until today with ROW80. Need to be better on this! Monday through Friday, write, write, WRITE!! Also, need to not be hard on myself!!

This (upcoming) Week:
     *Reading: continue with The Amber Spyglass, The Festival of Bones, and Murder Comes Ashore. I am liking all of these thus far.
     *Writing: write daily, at least 300 words, Monday through Friday. This is my priority and the big focus for the rest of August.
     *Editing: at least 4 pages of The Real Road Trip (NaNoWriMo). I want the first revision done by August 31st. The next biggest goals.
     *Blogging: 1 new Non-ROW80. Need to create a schedule. I think that will help with this.
     *Submission: 2 new submission. Got a rejection a few days after last submission. That bummed me out. Thinking I need to try something different on my approach. Looking for suggestions on submitting, Dear Readers?

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. It's where you set some goals, post them to your blog, and check-in twice a week at the Blog Hop. Come on in for a visit!!

   

WIPpet Wednesday and Cucumber Soda

Actually spent time with the hubs tonight. I took a little bit of time and made a picnic for David and I. We headed up to Spencercrest Nature Center for a dinner/picnic and some us time. It felt good! We both needed a moment or two to chill. Both of our weeks have been rather hectic and it was much needed. Armed with roast beef sandwiches, sweet pickles (David loved those), birthday cake Oreos, and cucumber soda. Yes, I said cucumber soda. It was surprisingly good.

 And then on the drive home saw some deer having their dinner.

What's coming up, well, improv show this Friday! And my birthday is on Sunday. Not quite sure what I am doing for it, but I'm sure it'll be a good weekend. This coming week is the Weird Al concert in Williamsport and then there's the Sterling Renaissance Faire on Saturday. My friend Sara is making Faerie costumes. Will post picture. August is turning into a busy month. I am almost at the end of my three month hiatus from theatre. In the fall I start stage managing a production of The Music Man. So, I will be a busy bee again. After this summer I have found a balance with many of my goals and it is only gets better.

This Week:

     *Reading: started Murder Comes Ashore (Julie Anne Lindsey), continuing through The Amber Spyglass (Phillip Pullman), and almost done with Smoke and Mirrors (Neil Gaiman). Neil's stories are always interesting and enchanting, even when they are a bit strange.

     *Editing: pretty proud of myself this week. I edited about 8 pages of The Real Road Trip, my NaNoWriMo from last year and a story about two friends on a Road Trip. I had been fighting with trying to get through a  first full edit/revision. I kept putting it aside and putting it aside. I finally decided that I needed to edit it. I thus picked the draft up and begin to read. I changed how I made my edits. My practice is not perfect, but I am making more progress.  I would read a section and jotted notes on the side, sometimes correcting some of the minor spelling and grammatical, or slashing whole sections. Also decided I am going to wait until I finish going through the script before typing the edits in. I feel this is making the revision reading move faster. Also, I revised and edited a flash fiction piece for #writestuff monthly challenge. You can read it Maybe its Time.

     *Writing: wrote on Sunday a ROW80 post, did a 15 minute writing blitz (about 414 words) on Tuesday, and writing today's ROW80 post. Been busy with other goals, but feeling better about my balance all the goals.

     *Blogging: see above. Posted the story Maybe its Time.

     *Social Media: visited 4 blogs daily and my sponsor duties since Sunday. One track!

This (upcoming) Week:

     *Reading: finish Smoke and Mirrors and Murder Comes Ashore.

     *Writing: write daily. At least 300 words.

     *Editing: at least 2 pages of The Real Road Trip.

     *Blogging: 1 new non-ROW80 post.

     *Submissions: 2 new submissions.

     *Social Media: visit 4 blogs daily and sponsor duties.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come see what fellow blogger and writers are up to at the Blog Hop.

It's also WIPpet Wednesday. Created by K.L. Schwengel, where the WIPpeteers share a bit from their current WIP. You take Today Date (7/29/2015) and use some math to relate back to the snippet. Today I give you 7 paragraphs for the 7th month from my new story Once Upon a Cloud.... With a little more banter between Cumi and Strat sitting down to lunch in Chicken Bliss.

Chicken Bliss was not very large of a business. An occupancy sign read Maximum of 25 persons within. It looked so much bigger on the outside. 

Stratus crossed back to the table with two tall plastic glasses of something, “Here. Drink up, Kid.” Cumi eyed him, he was still calling her a kid and she wasn’t a kid. Her face twisting into a frown as she took the glass.

“The name is Cumulus, Strat. Cumi for short, you should know that.” She took the glass, “What you get me anyway?” The moment had passed as she looked into the glass. Knowing she should ask before she drank anything down here. 

That was how Stratus often got into trouble, drinking before he knew what he was drinking, especially amongst the Terrans. Cumi eyed the kitchen staff suddenly feeling unsure, and then Stratus. There was no one else here and who else would know she was here, except Stratus and who of the Terrans would know to give her something bad. She was over re-acting. No one. Still she took the glass and sniffed the contents.

“It’s pop, Kid. Soda, cola, carbonated beverage. Relax! I got you a Coke.” Stratus said, smiling his goofy grin. Lifting his glass in the air, “A toast, to the …to the…:” shaking his head, “I don’t remember the words…ah ha, yes I do. To Life. Litcheim!”

“You are weird.”

“Thank you.” And he guzzled down his glass of Coke. “Another Marty!” he called over his shoulder.

Favourite Indie Authors/Writers

So there are a some indie author/writers that I have come to enjoy either with full length novels, poetry, are witty blogs about writing and inspiring encouragement . My definition of indie author/writier is any author who is not on the main stream, yet packs a punch with their writing. HEre are a few of my favourite indie authors/writers.

Julie Ann Lindsay: a writer cozy mysteries and paranormal YA. Her Patience Price novels are a fun read with adventure in the heart of Chincoteague Island. Twitter: JulieALindsey

Tamara Woods: a powerful poet. Here poetry strikes a sparkle within my writing heart. Blog: PenPaperPad. check out her book of poetry here. Twitter: PenPaperPad

James A. Owen: writer and artist extraordinaire, of the Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, Starchild, The Meditation Trilogy. Drawing out the Dragons is his book that change my life and helped me to find the writer in me. Told through stories and learned truths he speaks of conquering the obstacles within your life and making choices. It's a must read for everyone. You can find something for everyone! Twitter: CaveoPricipia

Sione Aeschliman: writer, editor, writing coach, blogger. Twitter: WriteLearnDream

Denise D. Young: writer of fantasy and romance. I enjoy following her writing exploits. She has an amazingTwitter: DeniseDYoung

Upon the Island Sand

Today's is gonna be short post for I am theatreing all day!

Tra-La-La-La

J is for Julie Anne Lindsey

My friend, writer, and twitter co-hort, Julie Anne Lindsey writes amoungst other things writes mysteries set on Chincoteague Island with her shero Patience Price. The Cozy Mystery series. The free lance counselor turned detective solves crimes on her hometown's own island. The first book in the series Murder by the Seaside is a next read and available at Carina Press, Amazon,  or Barnes and Noble (ebook reader formats). 

It's late or really earlier, so onto the poem. It's a free verse about Chincoteague island just off the coast of Virginia. Every year they round up some the wild ponies to sell at market. It's the major income for the island.  Maybe someday I will make down there to see what is really looks like. The sands, ocean breezes, and the wild mponies. I remember reading Misty of Chincoteague and Stormy, Misty's Foal. Good times!

Upon the Island Sands

Upon the island sands

They play—

The famous of ponies,

If you have read books

In your youth.

Upon the Chincoteague sands

They dash and frolic

As ponies do.

But, there is more

Than merriment and mirth

That occurs on Misty’s shores.

Review: Murder by the Seaside

I am borrowing an idea from Kait Nolan's (Clicky the Linky) blog. She periodically review books that she has read and would like to promote. Today's post follows that vein. Where she write mini reviews on three books that she has recently read or listened to the audio book. I am going to focus on one review of a fellow author and sometimes just fantastic stuff I have encountered. I've started this year with a goal of reading 30 books within 2015. I just barely made 25 books in 2014 and that was spending a large part of the year not reading. So I am hitting the ground running, er reading.

I am a Bibliophile. no, strike that. I am a HUGE Bibliophile! I love books, old, news, long, archaic , or the trendiest thing ever. If I go into a used bookstore, hell, even a new bookstore I run the risk of spending money. There is always a pile of books in my bedroom and of course the stacks of my little library. Yeah, might have a problem. Anyway, I want to see how many book I can get through and still remember the plot by December. This means reading to enjoy and immerse myself in the stories. Thus far 2015 has been full of Doctor 9 novel adventures and some new authors, the ranks of Neil Gaiman and Julie Anne Lindsey.

Today I present for the connoisseur of books, mystery, stories, and just all out fun, Murder by the Seaside, by Julie Anne Lindsey (check out her site).

If you like a good mystery, with interesting characters, and a touch of girl power blended in then I think you might enjoy and like Murder by the Seaside. The story is engaging, many nights, weekend mornings, and lunch breaks I found it hard to put down. Lindsey makes a real place and her characters range from lovable, fun, to strictly annoying. This is a good thing. I like that. I like knowing that I am NOT going to love every character in a book. Sometimes people are truly unlikable. So I like seeing a wide variety of real and entertaining characters, especially the shero/hero, the suspect(s), the incidentals, and/or murderer.

No Spoilers Here!!!

What initially drew my to Murder by the Seaside was the author, fellow writer and tweeter, Julie(on twitter @JulieALindsey). I started by piqued by this series of mystery novels that she was writing. Called Cozy mystery is was curious and love mysteries too. Also, the books are set on Chincoteague Island, the same island that has the wild ponies (of Misty and Stormy fame). I remember reading Misty of Chincoteague in middle school and also re-read it last year. It a real place. That's cool! I kind of want to go there now.

Characters are all interesting and feel like real people, especially when they mess up or just act like real people do. I have an affinity for flawed characters in stories. The main character, detective Patience Price is pretty flawed, but ultimately lovable, the daughter of hippies and a very logic, out of work human service person turned counselor. When reading anything, I like to see real people, characters that are flawed, fake, real, perfect, or perfectly flawed. Just as long as they are real.

Lindsey writes with a passion for a good and interesting story. You can tell that she cared about the details and the feel of her world that she has created. She also is quite good about not making anything too obvious. I like to be able to read mysteries and be surprised by what unfolds, or at least not figure out the murderer within the first twenty pages. Murder by the Seaside keeps to guessing and gives you a nice puzzle to solve. Lindsey also adds a bit of romance to the story. While I don't normally read romance, I like a good smooshy story within the main story.

Murder by the Seaside a great blend of mystery, drama, romance, and a little history.

You can get any of the Patience Price, Cozy Mysteries: (Murder by the Seaside, Murder Comes Ashore, Murder in Real Time) at Carina Press, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. Lindsey also writes YA fiction (Deceived and Prophecy) and I think I know what I will be reading later this year. Well, after I read my Neil Gaiman pile that is, always so many books to read.

Wednesday Progress: It goes well!

Kind of staggering, we have snow, finally, and LOTS AND LOTS of cold.

Mousetrap rehearsals have begun and I have started the goals with a gusto.The last two days have been full, with rehearsals and trying to implement my goals. I have learned (I reiterate again, mostly for myself) to make myself do them and to do them with joy, for the fun/thrill of it. Hopefully after a few weeks I won't really need to think so hard about them, as they will become habit.

It's been two days since the last (first) check-in, so this might be a touch short. Here we go....

This Week:
     *Reading: I am currently reading two books, side by side. The Deviant Strain by Justin Richards. It's aStealer of Dreams and I read that in ONE day. That was pretty exciting and I realized that I can read a while book in a day and not feel like I wasted the day. Fun adventure with the Doctor (9th Doctor to be specific). I am also reading Murder by the Seaside by Julie Anne Lindsey. Something fun and it goes with the theme of the Mousetrap. Easy read and interesting characters.
Doctor Who adventure and I am finding them easy reads. The last one was the
      *Writing: Monday I wrote a poem that was over 100 words in length and yesterday I wrote a piece of flash fiction with 1225 words for a challenge at the Google Group: #writestuff  by PenPaperPad - on Twitter and check out her blog at PenPaperPad, good stuff there. she also does a Twitter chat on tuesday night 9 pm EST. The working title of the story is The Bridge (Something else to edit. Not sure if I should groan about it). So I feel great! And realizing the flash fiction is a good style to write in, as I have to be concise with my words and phrases. Practice makes perfect.
      *Novel (The Real Road Trip): I have printed the manuscript. First step completed! Current length at 115 pages.
      *Theatre (Mousetrap): half of the show is blocked. Cast is excited, as am I. Good well.
      *Social Media/visiting: holding steady. I visited a bunch of blogs and sites on Monday, over 4 blogs/sites. Yesterday, maybe only about 1 or 2. Twitter pretty active. Building my Facebook page: Here, there be a Writer. Having a logo design contest, if interested message/email me.

This upcoming week (later in the week):
        *Blogging: going to watch The Little Prince (movie version) with Gene Wilder. Blog post about the review of book versus movie to follow. This is from my October Book to Movie Review Month. Just a touch behind. This is the second of four, next up for book to movie will be The Golden Compass.
        *Editing: nothing to report, as per my goal updates for editing are on Wednesday. More to follow on the progress. Up first, The Audition.
        *Novel: begin to read The Real Road Trip. Just read it!
        *And all other reading, writing, theatre, social media, and other goals.... (see above and last post here).

ROund of Words in 80 Days is a blog/writing challenge that knows you have a life. Check out the Blog Hop and see what we are up to.

Something fun for today: