by Sarah | Sep 3, 2015 | All About Family, All About Kennedy, All of Us, Disney, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect
Kennedy had never been to a theme park before.
Ever.
No roller coasters. No thrill rides of any sort.
Day one at Universal – she rode ALL the roller coasters.
We started with Escape from Gringotts and from there…IT WAS ON.
Every possible thrill ride she could go on, she did. She got MAD when she wasn’t tall enough. She wanted to ride them ALL!
Flight of the Hippogriff? Check. Dr. Doom’s Fear Fall? CHECK! If it spun, flipped, soared, fell, or raced, Kennedy was on it.
The thrills continued at Disney World. First day, first ride – Space Mountain. Kennedy and I rode it twice. The Rockin’ Roller Coaster was another huge hit.
By the time we left Disney we’d bought Kennedy a shirt that declared her a “Thrillseeker” because holy cow was she ever! This child LOVES being scared.
When it came to the Dragon Challenge at Universal – she was not tall enough. She was SO MAD. She actually forbade Erik & I from riding it (we did anyway, because DUH)…and has since insisted on regular measurements to see if she’s tall enough yet for the ride. Even though she’s going to be 14 the next time she’s aware she’ll be going again, she wants to know the minute she’s tall enough for that ride (for the record, she broke the height requirement in August).
So watch out…our little thrillseeker is ready to take over the world and every single theme park ride you can throw her way…because she’s ready to take them all on.
by Sarah | Sep 2, 2015 | All About Me, All of Us, I'm A Writer, Redefining Perfect
Today was supposed to be the gleeful announcement of my newest release in the Holidays in Lake Point series.
I was going to show you the gorgeous cover (see? Isn’t it pretty?), and tell you to go buy this sexy delight RIGHT NOW!
But alas, my publisher closed its doors yesterday. The book is no longer listed for sale, and the rest of my books will slowly be pulled off all retailers most likely by the weekend.
So…what now?
Well, believe it or not, in the chaos I’ve already begun to make plans.
Soon as rights are reverted (again, soon), I will be re-publishing every single book but one (Masked Hearts) on Amazon. That way nothing will be gone for long, hopefully. It will take a little longer to get back to the other retailers, and even longer for print, but those are in the works.
Beyond that, my last two Lake Point books of the year, Haunted Hearts and Mistletoe Mixup, will not be published this year as planned. I have many other things on the fire to keep busy with, so never fear.
I am, fortunately, going to be keeping my editor in place (I chained her to my manuscripts…there’s so many she can’t get far).
The Dominion Falls revisions are moving forward much faster than originally planned, and the first book is already in my editors hands. And I can now officially resume working on the fourth book in The Tribe series (which had been on hold to work on Lake Point).
So, I’m not going anywhere. Some of my books are for a few days, but I’ve already begun the process to do as much as I can on my end so I can hit publish as soon as the rights are officially mine again.
At that time, you’ll be able to find all of my currently published books back at Amazon, some with lower prices. And then I will be able to tell you all about Love for Hire.
by Sarah | Sep 1, 2015 | Books, General, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
In July of 2012 I was a little bit tired.
After seven years of trying this publishing gig, I had all but given up hope. Five years on my first series and a little over two on my second had worn me down.
Secret Cravings Publishing took a chance on me, they offered me a contract on Changing Tracks in July of 2012. My book saw the published light of day in February of 2013 and even received an honorable mention RONE award.
Seventeen books later and I am still proud to say I am an SCP author.
I have met some fabulous people that I call friends. I have met some skilled people that have taught me many things. I have met an editor that I will hold on to with all my might until I near that “Misery” level of stalking (at which point I will apologize and slink away).
Mostly, I have had a publisher that has had my back, has answered my questions quickly, has worked the trenches with me, and always kept its authors informed. In this sometimes messy world of publishing, every single one of those things is so important.
Yesterday SCP’s owner, Sandy, posted a message to us all to let us know she was, effective September 1st, closing Secret Cravings doors.
It was a heartbreaking message for her, and for us authors. Of course, we will be sad to see our books taken down, but they can be restored. What will be missed is the support of the staff, the community of authors, and the stability of a house that communicated with us at every turn.
Secret Cravings has been a great house to work for. I haven’t had a bit of complaint in my dealings with them. I know many others that haven’t been able to say the same about where they’ve been.
I can only hope that in my further endeavors in the publishing world I can find a house as good.
Thank you, SCP for taking a chance on me.
by Sarah | Aug 31, 2015 | All About Me, All of Us, Personal, Redefining Perfect, Story of Me
This hummingbird glass sculpture was purchased to be my cake-topper at my wedding to match the light hints of hummingbird throughout my wedding (like the hummingbirds mom embroidered on my dress). Less than a year after the wedding my cat skidded across my dresser, knocked it to the ground and shattered it. I refuse to throw it away. It sits there, sealed in a plastic bag, for eternity. The symbol of the hummingbird means too much to give up. I dream of finding someone to fix this cake-topper, even though I know it’s not possible.
*~*
My grandparents used to take an annual trip to see my Grampa’s brother. They’d go out to Massachusetts and spend time with family, and then return home to Buffalo.
One of their favorite parts of the trip was sitting outside and watching the hummingbirds buzz around.
Then, my great-uncle passed away, and my grandparents went out for the funeral. On their last night there, in the cool evening air they spoke of my uncle. As he sat there talking, a hummingbird flew up near my Grampa’s shoulder and hovered. It lingered near his face for several minutes, flitting back and forth before flying off.
They all decided that had been my great-uncle stopping by for one last visit.
Almost nineteen years ago, after a year’s fight against cancer, my Grampa passed away.
It was September in Buffalo. Cold air had begun to move in. All summer things were fading. I returned to New York with the funeral, and then went right back to NC to return to school.
Three weeks later the family grapevine lit up with the story.
At the end of September, Gramma was out on her porch to bring in all the chairs, etc. for winter. It was a yearly ritual when it just became too cold to sit on the porch. Since it was sunny, she decided to sit outside for one last afternoon. Wrapped in her sweater she sat, watching the cars go by as she always did.
There.
In the cold end of September.
Hovering near a hanging plant.
Buzzed a hummingbird.
It flew under the porch roof.
Hovered near Grandma.
And then took off.
*
Every September for the past sixteen years.
Even if I have not seen one all year.
A hummingbird shows up.
Every year.
*~*
I won’t let go of the cake topper.
The hummingbird is still in one piece.
And Grampa still visits.
by Sarah | Aug 30, 2015 | All About Indiana, All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Indianapolis Zoo, Photography, Redefining Perfect, Snapshot Sunday
One of my absolute favorite things to do is to head to the zoo with my camera. I love photographing animals (when they’re cooperative. My dog, for example, is not). Some of my favorite photographs of mine are of animals.
So when the family finally made a trip to the zoo recently, I was all too happy to take along my camera for the ride.
As always I took way too many pictures, so I’m splitting it up into a couple of weeks. I’ve got a lot of weeks of pictures to catch up on, actually as I’ve been way active with the camera, much like I’d planned. And trust me, I’m not complaining about that.
Now, onto the photos from the zoo!
Stag Beetle.
Hiss
Orangutan in the sky.
Timon.
Kiss-Crossing SeaHorse
Soaring.
And that’s it for this week! More to come next week…considering I get my camera back out 😀
Kennedy had never been to a theme park before.
