by Sarah | Mar 4, 2014 | Books, Holiday, MFRWHooks, Writing
My first week participating in MFRW’s Book Hooks!
I’m excited to take part in this new weekly hook-ing fun meme!
To start off fresh, I’m going to hook from my Christmas story, Santa, Maybe…mostly because I was laid up for surgery right after it’s release and it didn’t get the love it whole-heartedly deserved.
Ivy and Alan haven’t seen each other for eight years. Former high school, and college sweethearts they were the “almost” couple…both career driven on disparate career paths, eventually they parted for good after on-again/off-again relationship. This is the first time they’ve seen each other in 8 years:
“Ivy. I had no idea you were back in Lake Point.”
“Been here for almost eight years,” she whispered in his ear. “I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye.”
“You did. You just didn’t say you would come back here.”
When she pulled back he could’ve sworn he saw the glimmer of a tear at the edge of her emerald eyes. With a blink it was gone and she smiled. “No. I didn’t tell you that part, did I? Goodness, you look good. How have you been?”
“Busy,” he replied, chuckling when she said it at the same time as he did.
*~*
| Amazon | SCP | BN | Smashwords | ARe |
Alan Richards returns to Lake Point for the holidays, counting the minutes until he can accomplish the dreaded goal of dealing with his aging parents and get back to the city. Finding his former soul mate living in the town they left together and swore they’d never return to tosses his ordered plans right on their head.
Ivy Nowell has never looked back since she left the city and her ballet career to raise her daughter in Lake Point. Alan’s homecoming dredges up old hurts and the love she never quite let go, but he hasn’t changed, with his relentless commitment to goals that differ completely from hers.
The attraction and instant understanding between them lingers, but neither are who they used to be. Alan wants to give it a chance, but Ivy is worried he’ll change his mind and won’t risk hurting her daughter.
It’ll take Santa and all his magic to keep them from walking away from each other again, maybe for forever this time.
*~*
MFRW Book Hooks are a chance for authors to share their work and get you intrigued. See more great hooks here:
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by Sarah | Mar 4, 2014 | All About Me, Redefining Perfect, Top Ten Tuesday
Books have been my favorite thing for as long as I can remember.
No, really. I’ve often shared the story of how my first nightmare ever was of me destroying my favorite book, [amazon_link id=”B000IYCL4Q” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Bongo[/amazon_link].
So what better way to start my Top Ten Tuesdays then with my favorite books? Trust me, this sucker is going to be a tough list. I have to say this list is “currently” or “for now”. I’m always reading and finding new books, and sometimes forgetting them. So I could come back in a year with a totally different list (or it may stay much the same).
So without further ado…the list.
10. [amazon_link id=”1451657889″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Wicked As They Come (Blud #1)[/amazon_link] ~Delilah S. Dawson — A unique story of vampires in a combination of the modern and a steampunk world. It’s #10 because it took me a little to get through it and get totally caught up, but once I did I was hooked. Loved it!
9. [amazon_link id=”1419709704″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Splintered (Splintered #1)[/amazon_link] ~ A.G. Howard — Wow. I loved this take on Alice in Wonderland!! Totally imaginative and fun. Both the [amazon_link id=”B00FJ7NTP2″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]novella[/amazon_link] and [amazon_link id=”1419709712″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]book 2[/amazon_link] are on my wish list.
8. [amazon_link id=”1594744769″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children[/amazon_link] ~ Ransom Riggs — I honestly didn’t know what to expect with this book. It kept me enthralled with the unusual children based on real photographs. I’m looking forward to [amazon_link id=”1594746125″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Hollow City[/amazon_link]!!
7. [amazon_link id=”031257357X” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Still Missing[/amazon_link] ~Chevy Stevens — An amazing heartfelt story about life after the abduction. The ripple effect carries throughout Annie’s life after she gets home…and the answers she finds have surprises of their own.
6. [amazon_link id=”1439102813″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Still Alice[/amazon_link] ~Lisa Genova — Painful. Beautiful. (Warning: not a recommended read if you have someone in your life with Alzheimer’s, it might be too painful)
5. [amazon_link id=”0425247449″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]What Alice Forgot[/amazon_link] ~Liane Moriarty — A driven mom falls of an exercise bike and hits her head – losing 10 years of her life. The life she remembers is not the life she’s living.
4. The Demon Tales Series ~Kerrianne Coombes — Kerrianne’s take on the classic fairy tales is amazing (and hot). Starting with [amazon_link id=”B00816NFJ8″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Beauty and the Beast[/amazon_link], to [amazon_link id=”B0098M0IYY” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Cinderella[/amazon_link], to [amazon_link id=”1618855964″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Snow White[/amazon_link], and [amazon_link id=”1618859056″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Rapunzel[/amazon_link], I’ve loved every story. I have my hot little hands on [amazon_link id=”B00H29N3A6″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Sleeping Beauty[/amazon_link], too & can’t wait to read it!! I know the author has more coming, I follow her on FB 😉
3. [amazon_link id=”0061962155″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Confessions of a Prairie Bitch[/amazon_link] ~Alison Arngram — Confession here, I did NOT like the TV series Little House. I know, it’s a travesty since the books are in my top 10. Mostly because I thought the TV show strayed too far from the books…and to me that was sacrilege. I LOVED the book. That all being said – I liked this book so much it is the ONLY non-fiction book on this list, especially since I’m not a fan of memoirs in most cases. Alison’s recounting of her time on Little House almost made me want to try watching it again (almost). She displayed humor, grace, and a nice dose of snark, just how I like my peeps.
2. [amazon_link id=”0060754281″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Little House Series[/amazon_link] ~Laura Ingalls Wilder — first books I read, and read religiously. I’m now reading them with my girls and they remain my favorites. They mean too much to me not to. (P.S. the only adaptation I like of the books to film of any kind is the miniseries from a few years back done by Disney.)
1. [amazon_link id=”0545162076″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Harry Potter series[/amazon_link] ~J.K. Rowling — This is the first year I can say that this series makes my top 10. My first read-through I was more “eh” over the series. I didn’t “get” the madhouse fandom. After a second read-through in 2013 I’m totally on board. My girls love them, my husband loves them…the teen never got into them, but that’s okay.
*
And that’s my list for this week. I may revisit this in six months and see if it still stands.
What about you? What are your favorite books? I’m always looking for new recommendations?
Feel free to join me for Top Ten Tuesday! If anyone is interested, I can create a linky 😀
by Sarah | Mar 3, 2014 | 500k, Books, General, Writing
A few weeks back I wrote a post about the 2014 forecast for me and my writing. I figured now would be a good time for a “where I am now” on those goals and lists. I’ll admit that February didn’t come out quite as I’d hoped, but I still have gotten a bit done in the weeks since I wrote the forecast–and I’ve added some new items, because apparently I didn’t think I’d overwhelmed myself enough.
So first, the overall goals I’d set – with where I am now.
- I’ve challenged myself to write 600,000 words in 2014. (140,975 WC as of 3/2/14 4:40PM)
- I will finish books 4 & 5 of the Dominion Falls series and submit by February 8th – I didn’t get this done by Feb. 8th, but I did get it done. Submission went in February 17th.
- I will fine-tune and perfect Leap (Hidden Senses #.5) for publication. I’m doing one more round of edits, then sending it to the proof-reader.
- I will build my audience and work harder at promotion. I am not doing enough with this. Need to get out more.
- I will find focus (see below), and figure out how to USE it. I had GREAT focus in January, too much in some ways. February, not so much. Hoping March will find me that happy medium.
And for my list of projects. Items in RED are done. Items in ORANGE are in progress (or progress notes). Items in BLUE are new. Some of the new items are in blue with the progress I’ve made in orange.
- Runaway Train (Dominion Falls 5) – 113k
- Stalled Independence (Lake Point #3) – 30k (6348 done)
- Katherine’s Story (Dominion Falls Prequel) – 25k (5329 Done)
- Into a Mirror Darkly (Morgana Chronicles 1) – 100k (~10k done)
- Witch Way (Lake Point #4) – 30k
- A Thorough Thanksgiving (Lake Point #5) – 30k
- The Wolf (The Tribe #1) – 100k
- Natural Selection – 40k (6621 done)
- Hybrid – unknown…going to do as “Chapters” not full length novel.
- The Dead Past (Dominion Falls 6-temporary name) – 100k
- The Chief (The Tribe #2) – 100k
- The Raven (The Tribe #4) – 100k
- Escaping Humanity (Co-authoring w/ Mary Terrani) – 100k (9,002 done)
Surprisingly so far I’ve only added the one story, although I have ideas for more rambling around in my head. I’m pretty happy with what I’ve done so far. I love that I’m already at 140k for the year, but hope to get even further this month, and to finish both Stalled Independence and Katherine’s (as yet unnamed) story.
Overall, my progress is good, but I’d like it to be better. I’d really like to work on building my audience, and I’m hoping my plans for the next few months help me do that.
by Sarah | Mar 3, 2014 | All About Molly, Autism, Redefining Perfect, Russell-Silver Syndrome, Special Needs
One of our family’s favorite board games is SORRY! We play round after round on family game nights.
One thing no one ever likes is getting “Sorry’ed” right back to their start. One or all of us have been known to whine and groan over the inevitable gleeful “SORRY!”
No one likes being told to go back to start.
Now, that’s what we have to do.
Almost six years ago Molly received her “official” diagnosis of Autism (as well as Russell-Silver Syndrome). We foolishly felt relief at the diagnosis thinking now we could get help. We didn’t know what the road ahead of us held.
Now we’re drowning.
Since Molly is so high-functioning (possibly Asperger’s?), that our concerns are often set aside by others (i.e. the school) until a specific behavior presents itself. Every year we go in and try to be prepared for everything, but one of a few things happens.
- She starts off so off-kilter by the change of schedule/new event that any quirk seems mild by comparison
- Her behavior is so beautifully spot on and normal that any deviation is like a sudden attack on everything we thought we knew (or rather, they thought they knew)
- A new behavior develops that not even we suspected
This year we have reached a breaking point. The school has set her on a new behavior model because she degraded so tremendously after Christmas break. She isn’t listening to her teachers, she’s refusing to do anything, and she is avoiding tests like the plague (w/ standardized testing in a few weeks, this is not good, even w/ IEP accommodations).
The development of a possible learning disability on top, plus lack of focus, and weird tics and behaviors at home had Erik and I at our wits end.
We called the doc and got her in for her annual physical and set about finding out the next step.
Our pediatricians best advice?
SORRY! GO BACK TO START!!
So we must return to the geneticist that gave us our initial diagnoses. We’ll need to use him to unravel the confusion we’re currently in. There may be treatment for ADHD, we may see about getting her into a local ABA treatment, we aren’t sure what’s going to happen, but we have to go back to the beginning.
Again.
It’s a never ending process of hurry up and wait.
Mostly, Erik and I need to find local support. We find ourselves at such a loss so much, that we’re grasping at straws that aren’t there. We don’t know how to handle things, and that’s something that’s really hard for both of us to admit.
Now we wait until May to meet with Dr. E again, six years after our last appointment. Hopefully he’s able to help not just her, but us, figure out how to go forward now.
All we want is for her to be happy.
At peace.
Peace is so hard to come by.
*~*
Written for Things I can’t Say’s Pour Your Heart Out
by Sarah | Mar 2, 2014 | Books, Tuesday Tales, Writing
Welcome back to Tuesday Tales! This weeks prompt is Pale.
Leilyn got the shock of her life when Dell’s mere presence made her Were come out to play. Plus, she had Byron hint that Dell might be her mate.
This week Dell confronts his mate with some truths…and throws her world on its head:
Leilyn shifted too fast for Dell to have a chance to explain further. When he managed to change back to human, she already had her clothes back on. Her features were pale, drawn, and she’d refused to say a word to Olive or Byron, although she did accept Byron’s comforting hug.
Dell did his best not to growl his displeasure at the action. Considering Leilyn only knew half the truth, and Byron wasn’t showing any possession or protective instincts, Dell managed to keep his frustration under wraps.
He threw on the trousers Olive had thrown his way. Before Byron could ask the question he’d opened his mouth for, Dell cut him off. “Get out. Both of you. Out.” He put the full force of Alpha magic behind the command, something he rarely, if ever, did to Olive. This was too important.
Leilyn sank to the bed when Byron obeyed immediately. She rubbed her hands along her thighs, and Dell’s own hands twitched under his urge to go comfort her.
The moment the room was clear, Leilyn whispered, “I don’t understand.”
Dell grabbed a chair and spun it around. He straddled the seat and leaned on the back. “Have you been able to disobey a command?”
“Always. It wasn’t easy, but if I really set my mind to it, yes. Even my uncle, and he’s Alpha.”
“He’s not your Alpha. He’s not your uncle, either.”
“Yes. My parents were killed in the war, my mom…she was his sister.”
Dell gritted his teeth against the lie. “What year?”
“Sixty three.”
“Where are you from, Leilyn?” Dell rose when she shook her head. This time he wouldn’t let her skirt around the question. He stepped closer, putting force behind his words when he asked again, “Where are you from?”
Her nose wrinkled like she might get sick, and she stretched her neck against what he knew was an intense need to answer him. She fought the order hard, but in the end fairly vomited the words, “West Virginia.”
“The pack, they are weak, yes? They’re becoming more wolf than man, mongrel, their fur is patchy, their shifts painful.”
Even though her eyes fluttered shut, she wasn’t able to stop the tear that slipped along her cheek. “Not all of them.”
“They are the pack that attacked ours in sixty-three. They killed many Were’s and human’s alike. They took a young girl.” He sat beside her when she shook her head vehemently. With a gentle touch, he set his hand on hers. “Until my father reminded me, I’d forgotten. Pushed it out of my head because it was traumatic for me as well. We’d thought they’d killed you.”
“Not me.”
“Yes. You. We called you Megan. Your mother was pack, your father an Indian human.” He lifted her hand and pulled it close. “I saw you fall. When your body went missing my father assumed it was wildlife.”
“Not me, not me, not me.” Her hand shook before she grasped his.
“They stole you from us, from me.”
“I was treated well. Like a princess. They sent me to town in all sort of weather to be sure I was learned.” Her eyes fluttered open and she turned toward him. “I’m so confused. Why? Why would he do this?”
“Because their pack has bred together too much, they needed fresh blood.”
“He won’t let me go. I tried to reduce my risk by swimming to lessen how much scent I left behind, but he will come for me. I need to go. I have to.”
“No. You must stay.”
“Dell.” She trembled and leaned closer, her lashes curtained over her intense green eyes. “Don’t do that.”
“I’m not doing anything.” His heart rate picked up when she set her hand on his chest to physically push away from him. She didn’t get far since he still held her hand.
She stared at their clasped hands. “What did you mean, when you said he took me—from you?”
“Not now.” No matter how much he wanted to claim her, he could sense her growing distress. In one day she’d gone from runaway to learning her whole life was a lie. That was a lot of surprises for one day, one more might tip her over the edge. “You need time to adjust.”
“What if I already know?”
“Then you can tell me tomorrow.”
*~*
Hope you enjoyed it! Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!
My first week participating in MFRW’s Book Hooks!
