What Am I Doing On Christmas Eve?

We don't celebrate Christmas in our house so I'm making cheesecakes for my friends' holiday celebrations. I've cleaned the living room, did dishes, swept floors and dusted. Then my ex-boyfriend messages me on facebook. He's in an emotional tornado and wants my help. Guess what I agree to. I have him coming over to talk. How stupid can I be. The only time we talk is when he is having problems. If I had a doctorate I'd be getting paid tons of money for this. Why do I always help him and a few others like him? Is it because I know I can or is it a deep seated wishing I had a boyfriend? I have learned from mistakes that I do NOT need a man to have a fulfilled life. My mom thought she needed to stay with an abusive man to be happy. It tore her heart out in the end. I knew then I would never need a man. I still ended up in a few relationships that were just for companionship.  Guess some of us have to learn from experience.

Well, my ex is coming over and I will talk with him. I'll remember all the reasons why we are no longer together and forbid myself to get attached again.

I'm going to spend the next week looking at my mistakes and triumphs to better understand myself. I need to lose weight, eat better and get a handle on my emotions before I fall apart. My resolution for 2015 will be:
Take meds every day(I do it now)
Exercise
Write
Read
Cook healthy meals
Not look out the window and wonder if the grass is greener on the other side
Talk to my kids rather than speak at them

These should help me with all my issues.

Look for excerpts after the new year. I promise you ate least one.

Happy Holidays!

A Long Day!

Today is another day where all I want to do is cuddle up with a blanket and a great sexy book. Well, I'm not going to get time for it. As a single parent I have to clean the house AGAIN, figure out what to fix for dinner and still find time to write.
Here's my schedule:
10am-clean living room
11am- write
12pm- eat something
1pm- clean kitchen/ do dishes (daughter made monkey bread and left a mess)
2pm- write
3pm- have after school snack ready
4pm- start dinner
5pm- dinner and clean up
6pm- watch House
7:30pm- clean bathroom
8pm- write
9pm- get ready for bed
9:30pm- bedtime!!!
Yes it's a busy day. I'm thinking of editing my very first attempt of a novel. 'Inevitable Destinyz' needs a lot of edits and possibly split it into 2 novels since it's so long.
Thinking of posting an excerpt later this week.

Only good news is that I'm loving tsu.co. Hop over and join in. It's a lot like facebook but you see all friends posts.
https://www.tsu.co/jessi47

Hope to hear from you soon.

Writing is Hard

As I write today I realise that it's not easy. I have 1 that needs editing like crazy and 3 that needs to be finished. Why can't I just stay focused on 1 of them. Yep, you guessed it, plot bunnies driving me in so many directions.
Excerpt from #WIP3

Tasmina didn’t know where she was going but she knew she had to get away from him. How could this be happening? Her life was just getting on track, school, being able to walk around without fear’ well much fear anyway.  It was a life she thought she’d never have after everything she’d went through as a pup. She had thought it was in the past, now he brought it to the front of her thoughts. Thoughts she didn’t want back. Once she slowed down she scented to see if anyone was following her, no she was alone. The only scent she found was that of the stream running through the land. Knowing the visiting wolves weren’t allowed there she sat down. Thoughts of Amos and the dungeon rushed back. Feeling as though she was in it she began to shake, sweat and fear was rolling off her. This was how it would be with Elijah. He was of old days, kept his pack in order with whippings. Another thing she was all too familiar with. Though the scars on her back had healed without the faintest line, her inner scars were there to stay. She can’t go through that again and she wouldn’t. If that went going anomic then so be it. She had left her tracking sense open to keep herself safe, now she scented a male within a few yards. One she wasn’t familiar with. Must be one of those looking for their true-mate, something she never thought of doing. Tracking his movement she sensed he moved in another direction, to a path that was further away from her. Wondering why others wanted to mate, she thought of how her parents had been. They were true-mates and died within six months of each other, she being only four. Memories of them were faint but she knew they loved each other with all they had. Pictures of them holding hands and smiling at each other when they thought no one was looking made her wolf stir.

(c) Jessica Markley 2014

See not my best work but it's the first draft so I'll go with it for now. Back to fingers flying over the keyboard. #WriteClub today. Hoping to hit 5k new words. More updates soon.

Holidays What Happens When You're BROKE!

As Christmas and Yule approach I get more depressed. I wish I could give my kids things they want. Once again; I can't once again. Another year where they get toothbrushes, dental floss, mouthwash, and their favorite meals. They don't need clothes or much of anything fancy. they asked for iTunes cards (I don't pay for their phones their grandmas' do) and Austin needs bedding. I want household items, gas money and money to buy my personal things. I have bought clothes, undergarments or stuff like that for myself in years.All extra money goes to the kids. As it should.

To say it's hard being a single mother of 2 teens is an understatement. I'm unable to work and child support from one father isn't cutting. With 1 car that's my kids and the van sitting waiting to be fixed (if I had the money) it's tough. Now that Austin is playing basketball again getting my other one home after school is getting harder. I'm a recluse as it is but having to depend on friends to get me to the pharmacy is nerve racking to say the least. Soon the internet will have to go. Heart-breaking as it is I can't really afford it anymore. It's my lifeline to my fellow supportive authors and my kids' way to play games and talk with their friends they left behind when we moved 5 years ago. When the internet is gone I'll have nothing, to Netflix (we have no cable), no writing support and my kids will be saying 'I'm bored' all the time. It's heart breaking I have no family left to help.

I asked for help this year for the first time and since my kids are teens they won't help. A group in facebook thought they could help but everyone said that since the kids didn't want much and they won't buy for me that they won't help either. The kids will get things from their fathers' sides.

Too add to all this Austin need his senior pics printed and I have to toss together his open house. His father said he'd do it but I won't hold my breath. He did however have his wife take the pics, which I ended up having to edit, she did a shoddy job. It's cheaper than have them professionally taken since that would be $300+ and it'll cost me $48. $48 I don't have.

My ex-mother-in-law (mother to the one not paying child support) has helped so much the last few years I can't ask her for any more.

So, you are asking yourself "What is she gonna do?" I have no idea. I'll probably just muddle through and wish for the best hoping the kids don't get too upset and write to distract myself from it all.

On the good side, I made it through November without breaking down and crying for days. I finished NaNoWriMo and started another novel though none of my others are totally finished.

I wish all of you a happy holidays and warm times with family and friends.

One Holiday Down!

With Thanksgiving done and over with I'm doing better than I thought. I wrote all day instead of being with family. Yes, I know holidays are to be spent with family, well you don't know my family, at least most of it. Plus I'm a bit antisocial and would rather be in my own little world with my characters. My kids had a good time with their other side of their families which I'm grateful for.

Those of you know me, I've started yet another #WIP (work in progress) since I finished and won #NAoNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) with just over 50k words. It's in the same series as the last 2 that aren't finished. #WIP1 is only 2 chapters away from being done and #WIP2 has a ways to go. The nasty plot bunnies decided I needed to jump to #WIP3. It's flowing nicely so I'm sticking with it for now. As those bunnies stop with #WIP3 I'll finish up the 1st once and hand it over to an editor. Then work on second. Hoping to finish by March plus have edits done to my YA (young Adult) #WIP that I started 5 years ago.
Remember that the excerpts I post here are ones unedited. There will be many changes in the future I think.

Here is an excerpt from current #WIP3
"She tossed and turned. The smell of woods and power lingered in her nose and mind. It was nothing she had ever really paid attention to. Scenting was the one thing she tried not to do. All she would scent was if it was male, female or human. When she finally fell asleep it wasn't a good sleep. Her dreams were full of fear, terror and pain."

Well, now it's time to tame those plot bunnies and get back to writing. Have a productive week.

Disappearing Into My Own World

As this month comes to an end, I look at all I have accomplished. Finishing NaNoWrimo was at the top of my list. That and fall cleaning my apartment. Now I'm feeling the loss of my mom. After 11 years you would think I'd function better than I am. Last year I did great, better than any other year. Now I'm struggling. I think it's because this year the dates are lined up as they were in 2003. Mom's birthday would have been the 14th and she died on the 28th, the day after Thanksgiving.

To make matters worse, I have people complaining that I'm refusing to go to any Turkey Day dinners (my kids are though). I don't like to socialize as it is, what makes them think I want to spend time with ones that remind me this time of year is my mom loved. I just want to drown in my writings. Writing helps me deal with all the stresses that come from being a single mother with little money.

I'm editing 'Dalara' and working on one without a title. No, it's not my NaNo one. The plot bunnies (something that keeps your mind running with ideas) are making it hard not to start another one. I have no idea where it's going but I'm liking it so far. I think it'll be the 3rd in the 'Tamesville' series.

As the weather here in Iowa grows cold snowy and windy, I am hurting. Many of my joints are inflamed, causing me pain. I wish I had the money to move south. My health gets worse as the temps drop and I can barely function. I hate not being able to do things with my kids. We usually sit watch Neflix or a movie, if we do anything at all together. They are gone over school breaks and weekends; Busy with friends and sports every other time.  At times I feel as if I'm failing them. Then I think other times I'm doing good. Neither of my teens lie, drink, smoke, do drugs, or anything teens experiment with. Curfews are always kept.

I signed up with Critique Circle. It's a web based site set up to help writers achieve their goals and better their writing. This will be a major step for me. I'm one who does not like other to read my work until my OCD thinks it perfect. My fear is as many new writers, the novel sucks. Hoping joining will push me past this.

I hope everyone has a happy holiday.

10 Days and I'm Done

As there is 10 days left for NaNoWriMo, I have passed the 50k mark. Only a day behind last year. For the last week I had been struggling to get there. Now that I've hit goal, I have all these plot bunnies running in my head. With them in there I now have 2 more ideas for novels. Yeah, not like I don't have to finish the 2 I have almost finished.

As for editing, I'm working on the 1st in the Tamesville Series. Hoping to get 'Dalara' to my beta-reader by the first of the year. Then publish by March. I have my doubts it will be any good or even sell. Never hurts to try. I'll be blogging about the process once I get there.

With the holidays coming, it's time to slow my pace down and relax. I plan on writing on Thanksgiving and Christmas since I stay home while the kiddos see family. We will have a combo meal the 1st weekend of December; turkey, ham and all the fixings.  My house is still pretty much clean and so it's food prepping I will have to do.

Writer's Stuck?!?!?!

Behind is not where I wanted to be. I wanted over 35k words written for NaNoWriMo and I'm stuck at 21k. Though I am ahead of the 1667 words daily, it is frustrating. I know The storyline, my characters changed it a bit but nothing I can't handle.

So, why did I refuse to write for 3 days? I thought it was because my Main character decided to switch the man she would end up with. That had worked itself out the first night I didn't write. I wrote for 13 hours with #WriteClub at @FriNightWrites Thursday and then stopped.
Maybe an overload? I wrote so much in that time I might have fried some neurons.

Maybe my normal November depression is hitting? Yeah, i miss my mom but it's not as bad this year, at least I don't think it is. It's for her that I participate in NaNoWriMo. Her love for reading was more than anyone I know. She would have a book in her hands 24/7 if she could have. There was on in her purse, one in the car, one by her bed and of course one in her hand. SHe could read, watch TV and eat all at once. I've never mastered that nor do I think I will. SO, All in all I don't think it's depression.

With 20 days left I believe I can make it to 50k plus more, hopefully. I'm not very optimistic. Never have been never will be.

On a good note, I met an author that wants to read my dribble when it's done. Not going to hold my breath to hear it's good.. I know it sucks but I write it any way. Why, you ask. Hmm... good question.
I guess to leave the real world behind and hide within mine. I have total control over it (for the most part) and Nothing bad happens to me.

I guess that's all for now. I'm hoping to get back here before the end of the month.

Getting Myself Ready!

I haven't been writing much as of lately. This is not a good thing. I should be writing daily. So, with this I have zero links in my Write Chain Challenge. That makes me a bit discouraged. I had made it to link 58 and then broke it.

They may be cute but dangerous!

As I have just under 38.5 hours until NaNoWriMo starts, I am trying not the be anxious over it. I finished last year and I will this year. Though the plotbunnies are trying to get me started early. They have been running over the plots and the emotions of certain scenes. For those who don't know what plotbunnies are are cute but they are the ideas that keep sidetracking one from the plot or the things you talk to when you look like you're talking to yourself. Or a story idea that refuses to go away until its written. They are great at stressing you out and driving you insane at times. Outsiders (non-writers) tend to think you are schizophrenic; that is not the case though.

Scrivener all set up.

As preparing for NaNoWriMo, I have found that a character is not going to be easy to control in my writing. She is independant and mouthy. Why did I create her like that? Well, she is bound to make it very interesting. My Scrivener is up and ready for my NaNoWriMo WIP. My

Timeline all ready to go.

Aeon Timeline is ready to go and set for this novel. The time line was easier than Scrivener since all I did was make another arc. Yeah I know; the arcs are for the changes in a single story. I use them to separate the sequels in my series. I helps me more that using it normal.

With the 3 writathons going on between @GetWordies and @FriNightWrites I should be at 35k by the 15th. If not finished to 50k. 3 weekends of writing will definitely get me passed 30k.

Holiday plans:
If I hit 40k by the20th I will have Turkey day on the 30th. Otherwise it will be December 6th. My family is spares and not that into holidays other than Solstices and Samhain.

If you notice, I have completed my Reading Challenge ahead of schedule. 40 books this year. That will give me time to get all the writing done.

GOOD LUCK with NaNoWriMo folks. 

NaNoPrep Moving Along

With less than a week to go, I have most of my prep done for NaNoWriMo. Here's what's completed:

• Plots determined
• Twists (if characters let it happen that way)
• Characters 
• Character relationships (though they may change my mind)
• Places described and arranged  
• Title and title to the series (at least I think)
• Started writing 2000 word daily
• Aeon timeline set up
• Scrivener set up
• Calendar set and marked for all the writathons
• Word count meters setup 

This week has been good and hoping that this next week I need to get more done. I have most of my housework (Fall Cleaning) done. That is always a must before November and NaNoWriMo gives me that extra push.
SO, here is what has been done in my house:

• Scrubbed all floors on hands and knees
• Cleaned washer 
• Removed all lint from dryer vent
• Washed every dish in the house with soapy bleach water
• Wiped out cupboards
• Scrubbed & disinfected bathroom
• Vacuumed all carpet twice
• Washed rugs, curtains and bedding (I do bedding every other week though)
• Wiped all light switches and door knobs with Clorox wipes
• Dusted everything (picture frames included)
• Cleaned frig and freezer (inside & out)
• Cleaned microwave and oven
• Cleaned inside windows
• Re-arranged the living room for winter

There! See I have been very busy. Now on the 3rd I'll do my monthly grocery shopping and then prepare freezer meals for the month. Oh! And make NaNo snacks. @GetWordies has tons of meals, freezer meals and snackies on their blog and on Pinterest.  With 25 meals prepped and ready my kids can just toss them in the microwave, crockpot, or slap together a salad or sandmich. I think freezer meals were invented for NaNoWriMo. 

Kids will get their rooms done in the next few days so the whole house will be done before the 1st!

As for writing, I started what was to be an adult novella. It seems to be turning into a YA that will link with the series I'm working on. Don't know how that happened but it did. That one will be call 'Sara' I think. Maybe "Sara's Coming of Age". I guess I'll figure it out later.

Reality Sucks

Over the last few weeks my life has taken a turn for the worst. Income has decreased and I'm behind on bills now. I just caught them up. And of course the teens in my house are being teens.

My depression state is trying to inch it's way back into my life. My house is a mess and too slowly getting cleaned. Then of course we have NaNoWriMo coming up and research is getting behind. I have the kitchen done and hoping it stays that way with the kids.

Slow-cooker freezer meals for the month are ready to assemble. 20 peppers of all colors, 10 onions and mushrooms sliced, diced and chopped. TIP: If you put your onions in the freezer for 10 minutes of frig for 3 hours, the element that makes us tear is less effective. Dinner is taken care of for tonight. Now if I can keep up this pace all week, I will be good.

My boy finally got his wisdom teeth pulled this last week. He thought it was gonna be easy with no pain... He now knows different. Lesson learned...Mom is always right. Ha Ha Ha!!!!

A good thing that has happened this last month....
My ex bought our son his 1st reliable car, fixed the few things on it and took care of his senior pictures(clothes too). This is the first time in 13 years he did anything for my boy. Now we have a reliable car and a broken down van.  Wish a 'Fix the Van' fairy would visit. I hate not being able to just up and leave. My son takes his car to school along with his sister.

I now have my days and nights fixed. Lets see how long that lasts. Probably til November when I do NaNoWriMo. 50k words in 30 days is gonna be crazy but I did it last year and I will do it again.

What to do With Loss

As children we make friends; some life-long and some short term. As we get older we reconnect with many through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. As an aspiring writer, I have found that long ago friends can help in my process of my writing.

Daveiy back in the day

Yesterday I loss a life-long friend that has been in and out of my life for more than 30 years. He was strong, kind, caring, and always optimistic. When we were teenagers he was considered scary and would fight to protect his friends and family. Always with the law involved in his life because of his caring. Many thought he was a bad influence, to me he was a savior to many. He brought me through many writer's block this last 2 years. With him gone it has inspired another character. We all take loss of a friend or family member differently. Some of us cry, some loose themselves, and some look to the happy moments. I find a character. Is this strange? Maybe, but I don't care; Daveiy will live on in one of my characters and that is how I will morn.

Daveiy this year with his beloved puppy!

I am just starting out as a writer and I hope I can manage to do Daveiy proud as I develop his character. As I write my love and loss of him shall live on. His memory shall be kept forever in my words.

How I use Timelines

I thought since I showed y'all how I use Scrivener it was time to show you Aeon Timeline.

Aeon is by second best writing tool. Of course Scrivener is my bestest. Scribble Code has come up with an easy way to track events in your novel with Aeon Timeline. As we explore Aeon keep in mind this is the way I use it. Everyone will use it differently.

Many like the idea there are several options to time periods. As you can see here; you have the basics along with the ability to create your own. This helps in world building. I use the normal BC-AD for my novels. 

As you can see here is part of my time line for my serials. I have 2 arcs open with the characters below. Their ages are added when you add an event that includes them. At the top you have you dates and at the bottom you have a slider bar to move quickly over long periods of time. I use this the most since my WIP is over 1000s of years. 

The arcs are easy to flip back and forth to. You can have several open or just one. I usually have the MC I'm working on and the Birth/Death arc open. The Characters are always open in mine. All my arcs are color coded as are my characters by generation or who's book they are going to be in. (That's if the characters cooperate.)

Here is an event on my global arc. As you can see to the right is the open inspector. It contains everything about the event. Time, date, label (which is the MC for me), Arc it's in, and of course the title. As you can tell this is in Dalara's book and it's in the Global arc under Dalara's label. 

This is one of my favorite options; the ability to lock events so you don't accidentally move it. Once I have the date set I lock the event. And believe me I have deleted events or moved them years from where they should be.







Here is my character listing. You can see that there are a few different colors and their ages are visible. This is one feature I love since some of my characters are over 2000 years old.

Here is my Birth/Death arc. I record births in pink and deaths in black. This is scrolled in as to see as much of the time line births as we can. 

So, that's how I use Scrivener Timeline. It's simple and easy. Plus it's one of the few easy ones that won't break your bank. They sponsor NaNoWriMo and I bought mine at discount when I won last year. Check out their free trial. I guarantee you won't be sorry.

It's Been Awhile

I really need to keep up. It has just been so stressful the last few months. Now I'm just getting over a sinus infection, ear infection and an upper respiratory infection. Not 100% better but about 98%. Now to update you.

•  I've been reading a New to Me series. Mark of the Vampire by Laura Wright. Review maybe in a few days.
• Working on my Twitter writing account and blog for Get Wordies.
• Planning November's NaNoWriMo stuff.
• Getting kids ready for another year of school. My son'd last year in high school :( Yes, I'm old as dirt as my kids say.
• Washer exploded water all over the kitchen and living room. Damn floor is sloped the wrong way. None of the water went near the floor drain. 
• I started Chantix to help me quit smoking. I'm down 90% maybe more. 
• Dalara is coming along great. I have about 3 chapters to go before I send it to someone to edit. 
• I have an idea for cover that I never thought I would like. Having a friends help out with it. Love knowing photographers. Maybe I'll even do an Author shoot. I know I'm getting ahead of myself.
• I'm thinking about writing a novella between now and November as well as finishing Dalara. 
• Inevitable Destinyz has been set aside.

Wow that is tons of info in short space.  

The novella I'd do is a paranormal romance that has nothing to do with any of my novels in progress. Now off I go to research a bit more on men's feelings...I know that will be a chore and a half.

Review Time

It has been a long time since I read a new book, so last night I picked up my nook and tap one of the NEW ones. It was

Midnight Crossroad 
by Charlaine Harris

Product Details
ISBN-13: 9780425263150
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Publication date: 5/6/2014
Series: A Novel of Midnight, Texas Series , #1
Pages: 320

Get it at Barnes and Noble
Get it at Amazon

Overview
FIRST IN A NEW TRILOGY
From Charlaine Harris, the bestselling author who created Sookie Stackhouse and her world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, comes a darker locale—populated by more strangers than friends. But then, that’s how the locals prefer it…
Welcome to Midnight, Texas, a town with many boarded-up windows and few full-time inhabitants, located at the crossing of Witch Light Road and Davy Road. It’s a pretty standard dried-up western town.
There’s a pawnshop (someone lives in the basement and is seen only at night). There’s a diner (people who are just passing through tend not to linger). And there’s new resident Manfred Bernardo, who thinks he’s found the perfect place to work in private (and who has secrets of his own).
Stop at the one traffic light in town, and everything looks normal. Stay awhile, and learn the truth...

***SPOILER ALERT* Possibly***

My View: 
I love Charlaine's writings. They are always intriguing and easy to follow. AS for Midnight Crossroad, well it took me 2 chapters to figure out what the heck was going on. So much descriptive information over-loaded me. I'm still not sure what all the characters look like at this point, I'll have to read it a second time to figure that out. As for the story line, it's awesome. I love it when reading a book I'm not sure what will happen or who will end up with how. This is definitely one of those. As you get to know the characters, especially Fiji for me, you start to understand why he few residents are living in basically a ghost town. You will fall in love with one of the residents, I know I have and it's not the newcomer Manfred either.
If you like witches, vampires, unknown reasons for hiding and possibly a shifter then this may be the book for you. Give it a chance through the first few chapters, do NOT put it down. It will all make sense and you will be glad you finished it. If I stayed up til 3am to finish it, it's worth the read.
  Read more of Charlaine Harris' books, for a complete list check her out at http://charlaineharris.com/

Scrivener: Why I Love It!

Scrivener has made my life much easier as I achieve to be a published author. Before, I was lost. I had note cards scattered throughout the house, notebooks (about 50) laying around the house and always screamed when I couldn't find the one I needed at the moment.
I am a free writer, as in I never do an outline per-say. I get my characters, some idea of what I want them to do and write. Usually my characters never do what I thought they would. Scrivener has changed all that ciaos of tracking my characters mind-changing events. Example: I had planned on two certain characters to get together but in the current WIP the girl is liking a different guy than I intended.

Reasons:

1.) Scrivener allows me to import research, photos,  MS Word docs. This helps with organizing it all in one place. You don't have to have 50 million screens open and bounce between them.

2.) Cork-board mode is my best friend. Here I can have my note cards and move them around. In Scrivener, every document is attached to a virtual index card onto which you can jot a synopsis; moving the cards on Scrivener’s corkboard rearranges their associated text in your draft. Mark common themes or content using labels, or stack cards, grouping related documents together. I have folders for each wolf pack with all their pack members. I can click on the folder and see everyone's photo I have suggested for them. You can also move you chapters and scenes around to re-order them in corkboard mode.  I can just drag the notes cards to re-order them. As mine are in order of rank at the moment. It would be easy and take less than a minute to change that to age. I have the definitions is alphabetical order but had them in order they appeared at first. It took me 3 minutes to move the note cards around.


3.) Ease of moving things around. As I said it's easy to move your notes, research, chapters, scenes and characters in cork-board mode. It is also easy to move them around in the binder. All you have to do is drag what you want moved and move it! It's that simple.

4.) Being able to have photos on your note-cards has me jumping every time I open the screen. Having them to jog my memory as to what someone or some place looks like is easier than opening up my pictures on my computer. They are right there. And the split-screen makes it quick work to look up a fact on a note-card.

5.) I love the fact that I can color code everything in my binders. As you can see below I have changed their look. It makes it easier the click the correct one without reading the names.  You can also code your note cards. The coloring can be all of it or just some of it, like I have. Or it can be just the outside border.

6.) It makes it easier for me to start another novel in my series by dragging the info from one project to a new one. I don't have to retype it all in. Everything is there with a click or 2.

7.) I love that it tracks my word counts for each session and the whole document. It keeps me on track with my daily word counts. Below is my current WIP. As you can see it allows you to set the whole document goal and the session goal. AS you progress the bars turn color. When you get really close to your goal it turns green!

8.) The name generator has been a big help. I can set it for regions of the world and click 'generate' and is comes up with a list of names. Settings can be male/female, first/last names, meanings, and you can import others.  I usually use this for last names rather than first of middle and I change the spelling if it's for a current character.

9.) The full screen makes it easier for me, personally, to edit. It blocks out all the distractions of windows I might have open.

10.) Compiling into e-pub for makes it easy for me to proof-read it anywhere. I have done it while waiting for the kids to get out of school or at the doctor's office. All I do is upload it to my NOOK.

There are many other things that can be done with the program but I haven't learned everything yet. Learning everything I can do may take years but as I go, I learn a little more and the more I love it. Windows version is a little behind Mac but they are working on it. I have been working on Binders but haven't had a need for them yet. Some use it to track all their blogging, not me; at least not yet. 

If you prefer a more traditional planning environment? View and edit the synopses and meta-data of your documents in Scrivener’s powerful outliner. Organize your ideas using as many or few levels as you want and drag and drop to restructure your work. Check word counts, see what’s left to do using the Status column. Scrivener’s outliner is easy on the eyes, too, making it ideal for reading and revising an overview of a section, chapter or even the whole draft.

Others I have talked with say,

' It's a must for me.  Keeps everything all in one place.'

' I adore Scrivener - it allows me to visually order scenes & keep everything open. Plus character & research tabs.'

' I have full versions for both PC & Mac! Still hoping for iOS.'


Get a free 30 day use version of Scrivener at http://www.literatureandlatte.com/index.php
If you're not sure watch the tutorials and get more of an idea of how it can help you with your writing.

*All screenshots are mine. The photos are from Literature&Latte's website.
**This blog is my opinion and mine alone. I am not paid for my views on the product. 

A Tiny Excerpt from Dalara

Here is a tiny excerpt of Dalara. The 1st in my un-named series. It's a paranormal love story; we have werewolves, love, struggle, life-changing events and a heroin that rises to the occasion!

"Dalara was in the living room trying to figure out what was going on with her and Sage. After years of being healthy, why had she begun to have the illness that plagued her four to five times a year, now? What would she have done if Sage hadn’t been with her? Someone would have called an ambulance and she would be stuck in the hospital for weeks being poked and prodded again. Then she wondered why Sage had been so attentive. He didn’t seem too worried about taking care of her last night or this morning. Shit! She thought, she remembered she had put him in a situation that he hadn’t felt comfortable with, removing her clothes. She had never been shy about being naked as most she knew growing up. It had always puzzled her to some point. She was going to have to apologize to Sage. She had no right to ask him to remove her clothes."

Hoping to have the editing done by July and ready for publication. It has been a long process and not enjoyable at times. Frustration of characters changing their minds, writer's-block, and home-life stress. Now things seem to be falling into place and life, writing and kids are back on track.

Since I started up GetWordies on Twitter and run wordsprints I have had an easier time at getting things to flow in place.

Box Sets Anyone???

Box sets are wonderful, awesome, great, perfect, etc. I love having many of the series' books on hand and in one grouping. Here are a few I have found under $8.00USD.

Stolen Series Box Set by Elizabeth Naughton
$7.99USD

Box Set Contains:
STOLEN FURY - Book One
STOLEN HEAT - Book Two

STOLEN SEDUCTION - Book Three

Get it at Barnes and Noble
Get it at Amazon

Overview:
Filled with globe-trotting adventure, steamy romance and riveting suspense, the Stolen books from RITA nominated romantic adventure author Elisabeth Naughton will appeal to fans of Romancing the Stone and Indiana Jones.

STOLEN FURY:
To unearth a centuries-old secret, an archaeologist must team up with the rakish thief who’s stolen both an ancient relic and her heart…
STOLEN HEAT:
His past tore them apart. Her lies thrust them back together. Now a killer’s out for revenge, but the biggest threat for both may just be the heat they thought they’d already lost…
STOLEN SEDUCTION:
Hailey Roarke was never interested in her family’s fortune. But with her father and now her cousin dead, she’s suddenly on the wrong side of a police interrogation. And just her luck, the hunky cop assigned to her case is the man she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about for months. The only way to clear her name is to solve the riddle before the real killer. Without getting her heart broken in the process. Or killed herself.




Firebrand Series Box Set by Elizabeth Naughton
$3.99USD

Overview
Three djinn warriors. One power-hungry sorceress.
The battle for good and evil has taken a whole new turn…
FIREBRAND SERIES BOX SET Includes:
BOUND TO SEDUCTION (Book 1)
SLAVE TO PASSION (Book 2)
POSSESSED BY DESIRE (Book 3)

Get it at Barnes and Noble

Get it at Amazon

More info:

BOUND TO SEDUCTION (Book 1):
Careful what you wish for…
Sentenced as a pleasure slave, Djinn Prince Tariq of the Marid tribe has but one duty: travel into the human realm and corrupt souls by granting wishes to the women who possess the Firebrand opal, a gemstone of magical power. Ten years of imprisonment have left Tariq bitter, but to save his brothers’ lives, he’ll submit to his endless personal hell, even if it means giving up his own hope for freedom.
When Mira Dawson obtains the Firebrand opal, she’s sure the rumors about its magical qualities must be fiction. Until, that is, she touches the stone and a dark and dangerous warrior appears in her living room, offering to pleasure her beyond her wildest dreams. Soon, fantasy becomes a temptation she can’t deny. The only question left is…will the pleasure be worth the price? Because as Mira’s been warned, nothing…not even fantasies…are free.
SLAVE TO PASSION (Book 2):
Kill them all…
Enslaved by his enemies and forced to fight in the pits of Jahannam for their depraved entertainment, Nasir, the once-proud Marid warrior and djinn prince, has become a killer. One celebrated and feared at the same time. Even he doesn’t remember who he used to be, nor does he care, until hope enters his cell in the form of an alluring woman who may be the key to his salvation.
This is not my life…
Sold into slavery, Kavin must prove her worth. If she can survive one night in the arms of a killer, her life will be one of luxury—albeit as a concubine, forced to serve her lascivious master. Sickened by the thought, she knows it’s better than death, and where she once dreamed of freedom, now all she wants is to stay alive. But when the gladiator refuses to touch her, her only hope for survival is seduction.
POSSESSED BY DESIRE (Book 3):
Even desire comes at a price…
Imprisonment has taught Ashur, the youngest djinn prince enslaved by a power-hungry sorceress, one thing: life as a pleasure slave has its rewards…if you play by the rules. He’s been tortured. He’s nearly died protecting a tribe that’s forsaken him. But he’s also seen life on the other side as an obedient slave. For a shot at revenge against the brothers who abandoned him, he’s willing to serve his master, even if it means using passion to corrupt the souls she needs to fuel her immortality. His first assignment, however, turns out to be more than just a woman in need of a little pleasure. Claire is an angel, and angels have the ability to steal djinn powers. No amount of vengeance—not even a ravenous desire he can’t seem to control—is worth the loss of his powers. And there’s no way he’s tangling with a celestial being.
Unless, of course, she tangles with him first…

Wicked Firsts & Sinful Seconds

by  Cynthia Eden, Katie Reus, Elisabeth Naughton, Laura Wright, Alexandra Ivy

$4.99USD each set

*A New York Times & USA Today bestseller!*

Six bestselling authors bring you six all-new contemporary and super sexy novellas of first loves, first attractions, first temptations, first times and first obsessions.

Wicked Firsts

Get it at Barnes and Noble

Get it at Amazon

Sinful Seconds

Get it at Barnes and Noble

Get it at Amazon

Stormy Weather Collector's Edition

by Selena Blake

$6.99USD

Overview

 Stories in 1!

After centuries of solitude the stars are finally aligned just right. The handsome Deveraux men of Louisiana are going to meet their match this Hurricane Season.

Stormy Weather Collector's Edition includes: The Cajun's Captive, Bitten In the Bayou, Seduced by a Cajun Werewolf, Mated to a Cajun Werewolf and Stranded with a Cajun Werewolf

Also, two bonus stories: More Than Attraction and A Cajun Werewolf Christmas

The Collector's Edition includes over 15,000 words of bonus content including an interview with the author, questions for the characters, soundtrack, behind the scenes and the making of the Stormy Weather series. Inside you'll find 450 pages of content for the die hard Stormy Weather fan.

Get it at Barnes and Noble

Get it at Amazon

This Week New Releases!

Lawful Wife by Tina Folsom
Release Date: April 14, 2014
3rd in the Trilogy

Overview:
Sabrina and Daniel’s road to happiness has been long and sensual, but littered with many obstacles. At last they’ve reached the final stepping stone: Sabrina and Daniel are getting married!

A sandy beach in the Hamptons is the idyllic, romantic location to say their I Do’s . . . but when a newspaper article exposes Sabrina as an escort, their perfect wedding and happy future are suddenly threatened.

Lawful Escort, Lawful Lover, and Lawful Wife form the trilogy chronicling Daniel and Sabrina’s love story. The trilogy kicks off the Eternal Bachelors Club series, which will continue with seven sexy New York bachelors as they each find love.

Free E-books @ BnN

Today I'm sharing free paranormal romance e-books from Barnes and Noble. I have read some and some I haven't. So, get ready to download tons of new books. These are just a few, search paranormal romance on BnN then sort price lowest to highest. All the free books will be first in alphabetical order.

Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe by Selena Blake

A Bit of Bite by Cynthia Eden

Across the Veil by Lisa Kessler

A Curve of Claw by R.E. Butler

A Dark Kiss of Rapture by Sylvia Day

A Daughter of Light (A Light onto the World) by Price Girls

A Divine Waltz by Lacey Ann Carrigan

A Faerie Fated Forever by Mary Anne Graham

A Fairy's Heart (# in Whisper a Wish series) by Sandra Ross 

A Lycan's Mate by Chandler Dee

Bad to the Bone by Vivi Anna

Cresent Bound by Karli Rush

Elfbitten by Leila Bryce Sin

New Found Author 2!

Katie Reus

Katie Reus is the New York Times, USA Today, and IndieReader bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.


As an Indie Author she inspires many of us aspiring authors to write and publish.







I became hooked with a multi-author collection 'Wicked Firsts'

Overview:
FIRST SURRENDER by Katie Reus

He’s dangerous, sexy, and everything she wants. And he’s about to make his claim…

Hayden, the dangerously sexy, tattooed ex-SEAL is one of the best friends Sierra has ever had—and the main star in her wildest fantasies. But he doesn’t see her that way. And she’d die of embarrassment if he found out she was still a virgin.

Hayden’s struggled to keep his attraction to the beautiful, dark haired casino chef a secret. But when an attacker targets Sierra, Hayden’s protective instincts go into overdrive. With the attraction between them burning out of control, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her and make her his.


Katie's Writings:
Red Stone Secret Series (8 books)
Deadly Ops Series (2 books)
The Serafina: Sin City Series (3 books)
Moon Shifter Series (6 books)
Darkness Series (2 books)
8 Paranormal Novellas
8 Single Title Works (non-series Romantic Suspense)
Multi-author collections (3 books)


Get her books at BnN and Amazon.

Find Katie on Website, Facebook, Twitter.

*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

*In accordance with FTC guidelines/regulations for bloggers and endorsements, please note that all the books reviewed on this blog were either purchased by me or provided to me by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review and nothing else. I gain nothing in return for the review other than the book itself. My reviews are my honest opinion and remain uninfluenced despite the source(s) through which I obtained the book(s).

New Found Author!

Crystal Dawn

I have just found Crystal and her writing is well done. She is a self-published author. I do not know much about her but if you like paranormal romance, especially werewolves you'll like this series.

Legend of The White Wolf


Overview:
When Ariel’s friends convince her to go out for a ladies night with them, she doesn't realize her whole life is about to change. She meets Blake, a handsome enigmatic man hiding a big secret. That’s alright, because she has some secrets of her own she has no intention of sharing. The problems start when the secrets begin to come out and their lives become hopelessly entangled.

Other books by Crystal Dawn

Caged In

Jericho

Nigel and Bekka

A Council Alpha

Too Blue

Planet Amazon Series

Find her on Website, Facebook, Smashwords

Get her books:

at BnN 

at Amazon 

at Smashwords

This Weeks Releases!

Dangerous Dozen
12 Romantic Suspense Novels by 12 authors.
Release Date: April 7, 2014
Overview: 
The Dangerous Dozen -- Alpha Males who know how to protect their women and how to love them. This romantic suspense boxed set stars TWELVE Smoking Hot Heroes in TWELVE Full-Length Novels by TWELVE Bestselling Authors.


To Catch Her Man by Charity Pineiro
 Investigative reporter Sylvia Amenabar must decide between friendship, love and discovering the truth behind a cop's murder... Undercover detective Carlos Ramirez nearly lost his life protecting Sylvia, but he knows it'll be a fight to reach her heart. . . Can they learn to trust one another and find out the truth about a failed assignment that nearly killed Carlos? Or will the secrets of the past and family issues cost them the things they hold most dear.

I'll Be Watching You by Tina Wainscott
Ten years ago, Kim left her steamy Everglades town under a cloud of murder and scandal. Her gran brings her back to reclaim her home and unearth the truth...while a killer watches her every move.

Bedeviled by Maureen Child
A *faerie* funny paranormal.

Protective Custody by Paige Tyler
Someone is stalking reporter Paisley McCoy, and police detective Gray Beckham is the only man who can protect her. While the chemistry between them is undeniable, there's no way he's going near the captain's daughter, and she has a hard and fast rule that says she doesn't date cops. Can they both survive the stalker who's coming after them long enough to realize how good they are together?

There's a New Witch in Town by Tawny Weber
Her magic, his town, their love... is it enough? Or will a witch just regaining her powers have to choose between saving a cursed town, or giving up everything she's come to care about?

In His Control by Nina Bruhns
A rogue detective will do anything to catch the sexy international thief he's fixated upon. When their titillating game of cat and mouse grows shockingly intimate, he must make the impossible choice between honor and duty...and the notorious woman he has unwittingly come to love.

Chosen by Sin by Virna DePau
A wounded alpha werebeast bent on revenge... A female vampire trying to save her adoptive dragon-shifter family... Can they stop a group of rebel shape-shifters from unleashing every demon in hell? Only if they relinquish their secrets, face their fears, and open themselves to love.

Imposter: The Protectors Series -- Book One by Karen Fenech
Chemist Dr. Eve Collins, wrongly accused by the CIA of developing a chemical weapon, learns someone has set her up as a scapegoat. That "someone" wants her dead. To save her life, she must join forces with CIA Operative John Burke--the man who doesn't believe her claim of innocence and the man she's falling in love with.

Dark Tide Rising by Kristin Miller
Police Sergeant Mark Thurgood is all work and no play, but he's harboring secrets that tie him to the vengeful sea. Free-spirited Emily McAllister is haunted by premonitions, and the latest shows her death in a dark coastal cave. Can they put their desires aside to focus on the task at hand and find the killer before he finds her?

Big Bad Wolf by Gennita Low
On the run from shadowy enemies, a secret agent finds sunlight and love while working undercover for a female roofer.

Found Wanting by Joyce Lamb
She's been on the run for 14 years. He's been sent to bring her home, dead or alive. A boy's life depends on what happens next. Can they overcome betrayal, lies and violence to find what they've always wanted?

High Tide by Maureen Miller
A couple locked in a struggle to protect the coast...and their lives.

Get it at BnN
Get it at Amazon

 *Disclaimer - I am not the owner of these pictures. I found them on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Camping 1st Week

I haven't gotten much accomplished on my WIP-Naleena this week. I do plan on busting my butt this weekend to get ahead of my word count because I will not be able to write 2 more days this month.

Excerpt from 'Naleena' my CampNaNoWriMo WIP.

Takoda ran his hands over his face; he had missed an important meeting and now regretted it. “My orders?” he finally asked.
“None. You have not shown you are ready. You shall continue to run the bar and be Beta. That means you must act as Beta not a low ranking pack member.” Drewdon stated in his formal tone.
Shame fell over Takoda and the Council could smell it. “In time Young One, you shall take your place in the changes. Sooner than you may think.”
Drewdon was always cryptic, as was all of Council. Zane was more blunt most of the time. “That means what?” he looked at them. “If I may inquire that is?”
“Time will show you.” Zane said and Council just walked out without another word. They were known for not saying good-byes or telling anyone the conversation was over. It frustrated everyone that wasn’t older than a hundred. How did the thousand years old deal with that kind of stuff when it was the way of life? Well that was one question that was never going to get answered. He packed up some papers and went home for a shower and food. 

 I am loving Camp and I'm meeting tons of new people with things in common. I'm keeping a 'camp' journal here online. As you can see I still have tons to do. I forgot to add finish making up the freezer meals. I still have about 5 to do.

If you noticed I need to get male MC (Takoda) to express his feelings and as all women know it's hard. At least I have figured out the flashback parts and have lots of notes on that. It will make the 2nd part fly out of my fingers fast.

One thing that has had me to procrastinate is my son has informed me he is taking a Creative Writing class that he will have to write a book next school year. He keeps coming to me asking all kinds of questions so I have written out several steps he needs to take before writing. Now he's working on characters... 'Mom, can he have white hair and be 26 years old?' I told him his characters can be and do anything he wants but they may have a mind of their own at times and not get pissy about that.

Now I am off to kick Takoda's butt and get him to do what I want him to.
Have a wonderful weekend full of reading and writing.

Favorite Author 10!

Lara Adrian

Lara Adrian's debut title, Kiss of Midnight, was named Borders Books bestselling debut romance of 2007. Later that year, her third title, Midnight Awakening, was named one of Amazon.com's Top Ten Romances of the Year. Reviewers have called Lara's books "addictively readable" (Chicago Tribune), "extraordinary" (Fresh Fiction), and "one of the best vampire series on the market" (Romantic Times).

Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer's Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America's RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion's Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). All seven historical romance titles have since been reissued independently by the author in the United States, with the first reissued title, Lord of Vengeance, spending four weeks on the USA Today bestseller list upon its release.

Her Midnight Breed series is one you can't put down. I had to buy all the books once I read 'Kiss of Midnight'. As each new novel comes out I must pre-order it before I can relax. A twist on vampires that is unique and pulls you in quickly.

Kiss of Midnight
From the back cover:

INSATIABLE DESIRE. ENDLESS SEDUCTION. ONE TOUCH IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle's deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night--or this man--is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed--a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind--and the unwitting humans existing alongside them--from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.
Here, in the arms of the Breed's formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all . . . .

A Touch of Midnight
Savannah Dupree is a freshman studying at Boston University on a full scholarship. But academic excellence is only one of her gifts. Savannah possesses something even more remarkable than her quick mind and insatiable curiosity for learning. With a simple touch, she can see an object's past--a skill that puts her life in danger, when her studies bring her into contact with a centuries-old English sword and the terrible secret hidden within the blade's history.

In all his three hundred years of living as one of the Breed, vampire warrior Gideon never dreamed he'd see the blade again that spilled his young brothers' lives ages ago in London. Ever since the boys' deaths, Gideon's been on a personal quest to rid the world of Rogue vampires, but now he can't help wondering if the brutal slaying was something more sinister--an act perpetrated by an unknown enemy. An enemy who is apparently living in hiding somewhere in Boston. There's one certain way to prove Gideon's suspicion, but it will mean using innocent, gifted Savannah to help uncover the full truth--a truth that will shatter everything she knows about herself and the world around her. And with danger closing in from all sides, the passion that ignites between Gideon and Savannah will tempt them to risk their hearts and lives for a love that might just last an eternity....

Find her on Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

Get her books
at BnN
at Amazon

*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.
*In accordance with FTC guidelines/regulations for bloggers and endorsements, please note that all the books reviewed on this blog were either purchased by me or provided to me by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review and nothing else. I gain nothing in return for the review other than the book itself. My reviews are my honest opinion and remain uninfluenced despite the source(s) through which I obtained the book(s).