Ready? Set. Write! Week 3

Ready? Set. Write! is a way for writers to keep in touch with each other and keep themselves accountable to the goals they set. This year it's hosted by Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Jamie Morrow,Erin Funk and Elodie Nowodazkij. Check out their blogs for more details and be sure to link up each week.

1). How I did on last week's goals.

1). Start and complete my newest novel BLANK SPACE, a YA contemporary - In progress. 

2). Read at least one book a week - Started and finished Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen. Can we say LOVE?!

 3). Finish Harry Potter book 4 and 5 by end of RSW - I'll get on that...soon?

4). Continue with 21 Day Fix and work on becoming a Beach Body Coach - first half of the week was great but since we've been on vaca I haven't been able to get a good exercise routine in and haven't ate the best. But, we did climb up and down the side of a mountain yesterday for 5 hours. I think that took care of it.

   

5). Keep up with my 25 before 35 - Slow going.

  

6). Get kiddo ready for soccer season - In progress. He mad it up and back on the mountain so I'd say he's doing great. 

2). My goal(s) for this week

I am LOVING this whole 30 minutes a day writing thing. Most days I even beat the word goal I initially set. But, if I don't, I don't beat myself up about it. Friday - Sunday I didn't get to write. Out of town for brothers wedding and it was busier/crazier than I thought it would be.

3). A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised

This is a little more than a line but I can't help it because I love it so much. An exchange between Katie, my MC, and Leigh, her BFF.

“Fro-yo.” She stared right back. “You said anytime we get so mad at the other we could kill them we had to stop whatever we were doing and get fro-yo.”

“At a time like this you want fro-yo?" I demand.

“Not want. Need.” Her voice was calm, even. Nothing like someone who’d just almost been smooshed. “Your eyes look like they might murder me right now.”

4). The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write).

Vacation.

5). Something I love about my WiP.

Spoty iwifo and busy week but I'm going to try to client.

  That it's finally coming along. Slowly but surely.

Ready? Set. Write! Week 2

Ready? Set. Write! is a way for writers to keep in touch with each other and keep themselves accountable to the goals they set. This year it's hosted by Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Jamie Morrow,Erin Funk and Elodie Nowodazkij. Check out their blogs for more details and be sure to link up each week.

1). How I did on last week's goals. 

1). Start and complete my newest novel BLANK SPACE, a YA contemporary - Yeah....about that goa. I revised what little I wrote last week and I did work around a plot issue I was having, but very few new words. 

2). Read at least one book a week - Only had time for one book, The Moon and More, but it was the perfect book to start the summer with.

3). Finish Harry Potter book 4 and 5 by end of RSW - Really need to pick up book 4 again.

4). Continue with 21 Day Fix and work on becoming a Beach Body Coach - Finished up my second round of 21 day fix. Taking a break, though keeping with the healthy eating, and back at it after brother's wedding.
5). Keep up with my 25 before 35 - Slow going.
6). Get kiddo ready for soccer season - Kiddo has been doing workouts with me a few nights a week. Sign ups are this week.
 

2). My goal(s) for this week 

 Revisiting my writing goal. Instead of X amount of words a day/week I'm going to write at least 30 minutes a day. I also need to create a "list" for my main character. Read/listen to a few books. Keep going with the healthy eating. The longer I go the easier it is.

3). A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised 

Standstill.

4). The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write). 

Life. Too much to explain but sometimes it's a bitch.

5). Something I love about my WiP.

  That it's about the best of friends despite their differences.


P.S. To everyone who commented last week THANK YOU for your encouraging words. I didn't get a chance to go back and reply to them.

Currently June 16, 2015

I really enjoyed the What's Up Wednesday posts I was doing for a while and have been looking for something to fill in. Then I saw a post by Katy Upperman titled Currently and thought I'd give it a try. Her first post linking back to the original is here.

Loving

Yoga! I took a two-hour Ashtanga workshop that a friend of mine hosted. It was a lot harder than I imagined yoga could be. But then again I think it's because I had the whole idea of yoga commercialized. This was the real deal.

Reading

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen. It's the perfect start of summer read. I'm also going to be looking up and studying yoga books and sites.

I love this cover much more than the hard cover. I actually own both, a signed hard copy and then this paperback.

Watching

Pretty Little Liars, Melissa and Joey and Baby Daddy. Love all three of these summer time shows. ABC Family has some of the best series.

Thinking about

The weekend. Work has been crazier than normal and I'm ready for that to end.

Anticipating

My (middle) brother's wedding. It's in less than two weeks!

Wishing

That friends and family didn't have to leave.

Making me happy

Summer! It's weird, I usually don't get into summer. It's my least favorite season. But I'm loving it so far. Last weekend kiddo and I hit the beach with my mom. This past weekend we rented a pontoon boat for a few hours out on the bay. We even happened upon a pod of dolphins! It was breathtaking.

Ready? Set. Write! Week 1

Ready? Set. Write! is a way for writers to keep in touch with each other and keep themselves accountable to the goals they set. This year it's hosted by Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Jamie Morrow,Erin Funk and Elodie Nowodazkij. Check out their blogs for more details and be sure to link up each week.

1). How I did on last week's goals. 

1). Start and complete my newest novel BLANK SPACE, a YA contemporary - Failed. Miserably. Let's just say I wrote as much all week as I should have done in two days. 
2). Read at least one book a week - This week was two, The Fill-In Boyfriend and P.S. I Still Love You. Really enjoyed both books.
3). Finish Harry Potter book 4 and 5 by end of RSW - Haven't touched book 4 in forever.
4). Continue with 21 Day Fix and work on becoming a Beach Body Coach - Going strong.
5). Keep up with my 25 before 35 - Need to read over my list again.
6). Get kiddo ready for soccer season - Kiddo has been doing workouts with me a few nights a week. We both really enjoy it.

2). My goal(s) for this week 

 Write 5000 new words on my YA Contemporary BLANK SPACE. That will most likely be my goal each week as long as I don't get behind. Again. Looking for a 55,000 draft by end of RSW. More reading and healthy living.

3). A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised 

 At the risk of sounding like a spoiled cliche it was a "sweet sixteen" gift from my parents. Though there was nothing sweet about them leaving the keys on the kitchen counter next to a card and bouquet of late-night store-bought flowers. ~Katie, my main character, on her car

4). The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write). 

 Mentally being able to write. Work has been insane and I'm trying to train a new co-worker and it's just taking up the majority of my brain space. I got in writing when I could but it wasn't nearly enough.

5). Something I love about my WiP.

 That I found a way to revamp an old idea I had from years, workout the plot holes I had and make it into something I could love.

CHAMELEON COVER REVEAL

I am so excited to be part of the Chameleon cover reveal for the lovely K.T. Hanna. I've been wanting to read a book from her for so long and it's finally happening!!

Chameleon (The Domino Project #1) is a YA futuristic science fiction story. It's set in the wasteland of earth after a meteor shower devastates landmasses, makes seas rise, introduces the psionic gene into the human race, damages the atmosphere, and gives the gift of an alien parasite to the world.

The goodreads blurb is as follows:

After Sai's newly awoken psionic power accidentally destroys her apartment complex, she’s thrown into an intensive training program. The only grades are pass or die.

Surviving means proving her continued existence isn't a mistake--a task her new mentor, Bastian, takes personally. Her abilities place her in the GNW Enforcer division, which partners her with Domino 12, who is eerily human for an alien-parasite and psionic hybrid. When her assassination duties are revealed, Sai understands the real reason for her training.

  On a mission to dispatch a dangerous Exiled scientist, she uncovers truths she never thought possible. Sai is unsure who to trust as her next mission might be her last, and a double agent seems to be manipulating both sides.

Without further ado - here is the cover, by the amazingly talented S.P. McConnell.

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It's finally here

Isn't it GORGEOUS!?!?!

Sit back and bask in this for a moment.

It's available for preorder for a special price of $2.99

About the Author

KT Hanna has a love for words so extreme, a single word can spark entire worlds.

Born in Australia, she met her husband in a computer game, moved to the U.S.A. and went into culture shock. Bonus? Not as many creatures specifically out to kill you.

When she's not writing, she freelance edits for Chimera Editing, interns for a NYC Agency, and chases her daughter, husband, corgi, and cat. No, she doesn't sleep. She is entirely powered by the number 2, caffeine, and beef jerky.

Note: Still searching for her Tardis

Celebration!

To celebrate, we're giving away 2 x $10 Amazon e-gift cards (open to anyone who can receive and use an Amazon e-card) Just click on as many options as you like and enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ready? Set. Write! Goals

Ready? Set. Write! is a way for writers to keep in touch with each other and keep themselves accountable to the goals they set. This year it's hosted by Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Jamie Morrow,Erin Funk and Elodie Nowodazkij. Check out their blogs for more details and be sure to link up each week.

Today is goal setting day!

1). Start and complete my newest novel BLANK SPACE, a YA contemporary
2). Read at least one book a week
3). Finish Harry Potter book 4 and 5 by end of RSW
4). Continue with 21 Day Fix and work on becoming a Beach Body Coach
5). Keep up with my 25 before 35
6). Get kiddo ready for soccer season

And don't forget to keep up every Monday using these headings

1). How I did on last week's goals.
2). My goal(s) for this week
3). A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised
4). The biggest challenge I faced this week (ex. finding time to write).
5). Something I love about my WiP.

Currently June 2, 2015

I really enjoyed the What's Up Wednesday posts I was doing for a while and have been looking for something to fill in. Then I saw a post by Katy Upperman titled Currently and thought I'd give it a try. Her first post linking back to the original is here.

Loving

Beach Body! Well, their programs and products at least. I don't like the whole idea that you have to be a certain size/shape to be "beach body ready" or go on crazy diets but I love the idea of being fit and healthy and feeling good about yourself. What I love about the BB community is there are all shapes, sizes and levels of fitness doing this together. I've done one round of their 21 fix healthy eating plan and dropped 6 pounds and a mess of inches. I'm starting a second round tomorrow, this time I'm including the workouts. I bumped up to the extreme level so I'll either be down pounds/inches or just down on the floor unable to move! And don't get me started on the Chocolate Vegan Shakeology....it's amazing.

Reading

I'm making my way through the Harry Potter series and am no on book 4, Goblet of Fire. About half way through. Really enjoying the series, but I'm taking them slow. A book a month/every other month. And then I'm rereading To All The Boys I've Loved Before before starting PS I Still Love You.

Watching

Seems all the shows I watch (except Game of Thrones) are off for the summer so I'm turning to Netflix and DVDs, rewatching old favorites. I'm currently on season 7 of Supernatural and season 3 of Sex and the City.

Thinking about

Summer. Weddings. My revamped book idea. Beach days.

Anticipating

I signed up for a yoga workshop later this month and I can't wait.

Wishing

That there were more hours in the day. Work has been hectic and I'm mentally drained. Can't focus to write or read. And I'm not liking it.

Making me happy

Lazy weekends. The weekends over the last few months were jam packed with training runs, actual runs (10K, Tough Mudder, Half-Marathon, Mud run), base ball games, family days, etc. And it's nice to just sit back and relax with a movie or two and just be.

May Reads 2015

I tried book blogging before...it didn't work out. I ramble too much. Then last year I decided to post once a month with a small blurb about each book I read that month. It works better for me. So much so that I'm going to continue this year. You can click on any picture and it'll take you to the Goodreads page.

Finished 7 books this month. Sadly 4 of them were audio books. It was a busy month and had more time on the go than to sit and read. But, I made it over my goal before the year is half over. Hoping if I keep it up I can bump up my goal from 80 to 100. 

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi/Audio

I'm glad I picked this series back up. 

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

I am so torn! I hate books that do this to me. I want to love them but then there's this little part of me saying no, don't. I didn't actually rate this book because I couldn't bring myself too. I did enjoy it but part of it left me hanging and I just couldn't figure out the why of it all. 

 Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi/Audio

So many twists and turns. Such a great series.

 

All The Rage by Courtney Summers

Another slam dunk for Courtney Summers. I wasn't sure if I'd like the story at first, but the more the layers started peeling back the more I loved it. I enjoyed getting to know Romy and what makes her tick. Courtney is great at writing authentic characters that make you want to care about them no matter how broken they are.

 The Heir by Kiera Cass/Audio

Not sure what to say about The Heir. It's another one I couldn't rate. It didn't hold up to my expectations. I loved the first three in the series and was looking forward to this one. It was slow going at first with little action and no romance. Then all of a sudden it started getting good. And then it ended. Like….bam, done. So I’m annoyed because I didn’t realize there was another. I kept waiting for the wrap up that never came. 

 

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider/Audio

This book was a fun listen. It was a little crazy in parts and I kind of hoped for a different ending but I'm glad I finally picked it up.

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

I honestly have no thoughts on this book. I just didn't get it like everyone else did.