As tomorrow is my 41st birthday, it's the time of the year that I like to look back and look forward on my life at the same time. The start to 2019 has been a bit rough for me on the health front, so that is something that I have been thinking a lot about as I age. I have been eating much better of late simply by making sure to cook more at home and I am getting exercise in as my body allows and those are the things that I am still going to focus on. I believe that I can help my health and so I am really going to focus on that this next year of my existence.
I am of course taking stock of my writing career as well. I have accomplished a lot as an author this far, I am published and that is more than many people ever get. Now I want to keep pushing myself and learning and growing as an author. This year I am pushing into some new genres. The main one you will be seeing if fantasy, I have several fantasy projects in the works. I am also going to keep writing horror short stories. I am proud to say that I have had 4 short stories already accepted this year when my goal was to have 6 for the whole year, so I think that I will several on the way in 2019! I want to also perhaps submit to one of the major publishing houses this year and see about maybe getting an agent so that I then can focus more time on writing. And as always, I am going to focus on my work/life balance. I am getting there, I really am. The day job situation is great. I am getting writing done and still have time for reading and more. I am making more art. I am spending quality time with my friends and family. I know that I can be more productive but I am doing the best I can at the moment and that is all that I can ask of myself. So these are just some of the musings I am having the eve before my birthday. I will be offline tomorrow as I am celebrating with my spouse and family. See you all later!
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As I spent some time after Christmas re-reading the Harry Potter series, I am just getting back to posting some book reviews! Leona Bushman is one of my favorite indie authors and Highland Magic is Leona at her best. This books takes you back to historical Scotland, setting a rich backdrop for magic and romance to take place. You get thrown right into the action and it keeps going until the very end in this fantasy novella. A feisty heroine and a handsome and strong hero show us just how magical love can be in this start of what I hope is a very long series. I certainly can't wait for the second book as there are answers that I am waiting for. I give this 5/5 stars and am eagerly awaiting the sequel. Link: mybook.to/HighlandMagic An evil darkness forces Mykel Campbell to reveal his magical powers. Mykel leaves his beloved Highlands in search of a wife. He has two requirements: loyalty and comeliness. Lyall has plenty of both and more. She possesses a spirit of adventure he found appealing. His attraction to her could nae be denied. Verily, his good fortune is complete. Until the darkness strikes Lyall's village. An evil which takes magic to defeat. Lyall resolves never to marry. She could nae imagine finding anyone who would accept her magical abilities, much less her strong skills for reading and numbers. Then Mykel Campbell visits their village, and her heart is no longer hers, her body like a foreign land. He came in search of a wife. Could she dare hope? Then an evil shadow full of creatures of her nightmares encompasses the land, and her family is in peril. Mykel swears his sword and magic to protecting them. Would the two of them survive to have the love of a lifetime? Or would evil triumph? I am so happy that my first art show of the year is taking place this Saturday at the OT Circus Gallery Open House! I will have two brand new pieces there and there will also be tons of other artists there showing their work! As this is an open house, we will only be showing between 4:00-6:00 pm this Saturday the 26th! Both of my pieces will be on sale for only $20 each.
OT Circus Gallery is located at 709 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102. You can get more info over on the Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/events/2333382293558468/ So I am planning on making 2019 a very productive year. I plan on writing and publishing more than I did last year. I want to create more art and to exhibit and sell, which will include setting up a new etsy store. I am starting up a new YouTube channel for fun and perhaps another avenue to market my work. All of this plus working my day job and having a life. Needless to say I have been pretty busy already this year, but I am also doing something that seems counter productive to being super productive, I am taking time for myself and for some self care.
Now I am the first to admit that it is hard for me to take time for myself to rest and take care of body. But I am learning that I have to take better care of myself in order to be as productive as I want to be. I also have health issues that make taking care of myself a priority. So what am I doing for self care? I am taking time to exercise most days, though I am starting with smaller workouts and slowly growing them. I am taking the time to cook nutritious meal at home, rather than grabbing take out or using premade foods. I am trying to meditate and journal most days of the week. I am taking time to color for fun. And I am making reading a priority. Reading just relaxes and is one of the things that I enjoy most in life. Yes that means a lot of time that I could be writing is spent doing other things, but it also means that I feel better when I sit down to write and the words are flowing better. Life is a balancing act and I am always learning the balance that works best for me. I am a sucker for urban fantasy and for box sets that are a great price for several books at once! I was lucky enough to preorder this collection and hope to start reading it soon! But I thought that some of my readers might be interested as well, so I am sharing it here on my blog. It was released last week and is only available for a limited time so check it out now. books2read.com/u/bzPMzj
mybook.to/WingsoftheWicked Wickedly Dangerous and Sinfully Seductive. Indulge in 25 breathtaking adventures of dangerous worlds where the lines blur between saints and sinners. Come meet the creatures that fuel your every lust filled nightmare, where angels are not always encased in a light of righteousness and demons are not always dealing in all manner of debauchery. Where you might just end up rooting for the bad guy… If you like demonic games, angelic interventions, and thrilling temptations, you'll love this urban fantasy and paranormal romance collection of twisted proportions in Wings of the Wicked. Scroll up and secure your copy today! Including Son of Chaos by Lexi C. Foss Torn by Ditter Kellen Unsuitable Companions by Erin Lee Arija and The Burning City by Zachary Paul Chopchinski Chasing Fate by J.R. Thorn Soul Collectors by Laverne Thompson Devil's Claim by Dariel Raye Author & Muffy Wilson Before the Fall by Colleen S. Myers Warlock from Wales by Shereen Vedam Shadowlands: Wings of The Wraith by Khardine Gray Death's Angel by K.B. Everly & Amara Kent Angels of the Triad-Sariel by Maddie Wade Heaven can Wait by Lynda Kaye Frazier Forbidden Hallow by Carolyn Reilly Wing and a Prayer by Amy Cissell Evil in the Highlands by Leona Bushman When Hunter Meets Seeker by Betty Shreffler Witch Cast by Erica Gerald Mason The Promise by Kim Carmichael Guarding Reese by RS McCoy Her Shadow Demon by Charlene A. Wilson & J.N. Tomczak Fragile Magick by Heather Marie Adkins The Demon's Touch by Anita Hunter & Rebecca Hamilton Drug runner Emilio Morales is one deal away from being the sole runner from Earth to the upper planets—until his partner attempts a double-cross. Now, Emilio’s stuck in a disabled spaceship with an unpredictable, attractive female who’s willing to help him out if he’ll assist her in retrieving her ship from an impound facility. Antonia ‘Toni’ Smith is sick and tired of being beholden to men. The only way to guarantee freedom is to get back her bootlegging ship to run her own business again. When Emilio kills her ticket out, she’s forced to rely on him for assistance. Emilio, the most wanted and annoying man in the solar system, is a sexy-as-hell means to an end. But every plan the duo makes falls apart and every day they spend in each other’s company increases the tension between them. With the death toll rising and their defenses low, can Emilio and Toni get the happy ending they want, without falling for each other in the process? Buy Links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KWDQTLK?tag=books2read02-20 Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-talent-for-trouble-landra-graf/1129943733;jsessionid=82B255EBC5E6D8B4128C49C5F8125C5C.prodny_store02-atgap01?ean=9781786864413&st=AFF&2sid=Draft2Digital_7968444_NA&sourceId=AFFDraft2Digital Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-talent-for-trouble-1 Totally Bound: https://www.totallybound.com/book/a-talent-for-trouble Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42842750-a-talent-for-trouble Rafflecopter Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/86fdd2f83/ Author Bio: Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.
Author Links: Website: https://landragraf.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LandraGraf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/landra.graf Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Landra-Graf/e/B00IESJED4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1440641120&sr=8- Excerpt: : He poured himself a glass. Turning it slowly, spreading the liquid up the sides and back down, he noticed he wasn’t alone. “Can I offer you a drink?” “No,” a sultry feminine voice responded. “There’s nothing over there isn’t made in the still or fermented in a barrel.” “Suit yourself.” Emilio turned and took in the view. Mother Mary. The woman, a vision of sin, stood angled toward the fancy window display where three floor-to-ceiling panels showcased the twinkling view. She wore a glimmering red dress, which sparkled even more as she turned toward him. Her hair was a pale-white blonde, short and framing her face, giving it a distinct diamond shape. She’d be labeled gorgeous, more than the word could construe, with her eyes the color of whiskey—and not the cheap stuff in his glass. No, the full-bodied swirling amber and caramel colors. “What brings you to Casa Manolo?” He swallowed a little more whiskey than he intended and did his best to sound suave, but the words came out more like a croak. “Nothing that concerns you.” The dismissal paired with a smile, a little thing revealing flawless teeth. He glanced down at her one note of defiance—boots. Grav boots to be exact, black and fierce. A deep, soul-encapsulating need clamped onto his brain, a need he’d waited years to experience. This was the woman he’d been waiting for. The type he’d always wanted. The one he’d call his. He walked closer, eager to see if she took a similar interest in him. “Oh? Well, I’m happy to make this visit less business and more pleasure. Your name is?” The words escaped his mouth as he glanced at her lips—expressive, full and waiting for his kiss, even when those same lips uttered, “Too expensive for you.” I have been starting this new year off in a state of horror! Horror anthologies that is! On January 1st I had my first release of the year, the supernatural horror anthology Evil Lurks! Grab your copy now for only .99 cents!
mybook.to/EvilLurks I am also thrilled to announce that I have also received my first acceptance of the year too, this one for a medical horror anthology that should be out within the next month or so! I will keep you updated as the release approaches! What a way to start the new year! This is going to be a great year, I can feel it! I am so excited today to help one of my favorite authors share the cover of her soon to be released historical romance novel, Darkest Death! Isn't it beautiful? I loved the first book in this series, Darkest Valentine! I am really looking forward to this sequel and I am sure that I will be sharing more with you when it comes out! But for now let's see that cover and hear from Leona! Hi!! So the time has finally come that the sequel to Darkest Valentine is making its way into the world! Darkest Summer will follow this year as well! You can preorder your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Darkest-Death-Leona-Bushman-ebook/dp/B07MDV3T6J Darkest Valentine is 99 cents until the 9th. In Darkest Valentine, Lillian had a friend who kept threatening to take over everything until I told her story. So I promised her her own story, and she has been patiently waiting. Until now! Blurb: Sarah, Countess of York and decrier of false men of the ton, enjoyed a good flirt, but she had her heart set on Lord Archer. Only, for the past four years, he barely acknowledged her existence except as best friend to his sister Hermione. Sarah had hopes that he began to see her as something more, but then the threatening notes started. Lord Archer also happens to be in the vicinity as each one is delivered. She hates the suspicions rolling around in her mind. However, Father taught her how to watch for treachery, and she couldn't ignore the logic or the coincidence of Lord Archer's presence, nor could she deny the pain in her heart at the thought. Lord Archer had loved Sarah all her life, but once her parents died, he'd taken a step back, searching for a wife amongst the ton as a proper lord should, leaving her to heal. Instead, he found himself drawn more and more to Sarah as she matured into the perfect woman to be by his side. However, could she handle the secret life he led? Did she know about her father's secret life? But none of that mattered once she started receiving those damn letters. Someone was out to hurt the woman he loved and set him up to take the fall, and he planned to catch them or die trying. Could he also woo her and remind her of the love and trust of their childhood? Or would the situation keep them apart, or worse, kill the woman he wanted to marry? Don’t forget, Darkest Valentine, the first book in the series is now on sale through January the 9th for only 99 cents, free on KU. Also available in print! https://www.amazon.com/Darkest-Valentine-Leona-Bushman-ebook/dp/B0788LD9Y1/ Darkest Death: https://www.amazon.com/Darkest-Death-Leona-Bushman-ebook/dp/B07MDV3T6J/ Leona Bushman is a USA Today best selling author. She is a crazy writer taught by dragons and known as Dragon Queen of the North. She loves to write and paint, even when her muse tries to muck things up. She chases after the three out of the five children still at home, and sometimes after the other two and the grandbaby. She has many hobbies like SCA, quilting, sewing, and gardening. Or, as one blogger succinctly put it, Leona Bushman is a whirlwind made of sheer will with a dash of clumsy to keep her grounded. She can be found solving mysteries, exploring space, making art, and loving dragons and other creatures of the supernatural at these places: Social Media Links Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4016631.Leona_Bushman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLeonaBushman Facebook artist page: https://www.facebook.com/LeonaBushmanArtisteExtraordinaire/ Blog: www.lbushman.blogspot.com and www.lbushman.wordpress.com My Website: www.leonajbushman.com Author page Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Leona-J.-Bushman/e/B0098SML0W Twitter: Join me at Twitter: @L_Bushman I frequently post under the hashtags #thenextleonardodavinci and #thenextleonardodavinciandson Newsletter: http://madmimi.com/signups/374285/join I am so thrilled to have not one, but three books nominated in the 21st Annual Critters Readers Poll! I don't even know what to say! The poll is open until January 14th and I could sure use your vote! What a way to start off the new year! You can vote here for all categories: https://www.critters.org/predpoll/
Here for A Whole New Life: critters.org/predpoll/novelr.shtml Here for Very Friendly Beasts: critters.org/predpoll/shortstoryr.shtml And here for It's Behind You: critters.org/predpoll/antho.shtml |
AuthorAuthor, artist, jewelry maker and all around creative person. I write in many genres and have a lot of fun doing so. Please take a look around and enjoy! Archives
January 2022
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