Stop Looking━ I Found It.

 

Okay, I'm still in cleaning out my Dropbox mode. Who knew I had so much crap I've stored in there. Stuff that I'll probably never used again. So, I'm painstakingly working my way through it all and discarding what I deem is useless to me, and transfer other things to my external hard drive.

You will all be happy to know I eventually found the missing NSI from yesterday, Woden's Wolves MC 1: Rescue Me (Ezra & Sophie). I'm glad I didn't lose it for good. It was still in longhand in my folder, so for that, I'm very grateful. --------------------------------------------> This guy is Ben Dahlhaus (I think) and he is the inspiration for all of the Fuller brothers in my story━for me this is my Ezra Fuller. I have four different versions of him for all of my brothers = Ezra, Ezekiel (Zeke), Elex, & Ethaniel (Thaniel).

<--------------------- This is my Sophie Thornwell... Shelley Hennig is my inspiration for her. This story is really talking to me at the moment. So I like working on it. I try and do a little bit each day. Just to get myself head for when I do come to actually getting around to typing the whole thing up... let's just say, I'll have a lot of notes down to write the story.

But if the truth be told. This isn't the only NSI I've been writing notes up on. I have a ton I need to sort through. I did something stupid and forgot to number the pages, and label which pages belong to which NSI... I can hear you all laughing at me, and I don't blame you. I wanna kick my own arse. It'll take a little bit to separate them back to where they all belong and hopefully not mix them all up again... I'll let you know how it all goes. Feel free to leave me a message to make sure I'm keeping everything where it's supposed to be.

Tree Trimming

 

And I don't mean as in the Christmas tree kind. I have two unruly Hibiscus that need to be brought back under control. All the others (I have 4) are behaving, but these two have just gone ballistic. So I want to get it done before 2021 arrive = start the new year off on a good note type of deal.

I spent an hour this morning weeding the two outside garden beds. In the morning when it's cooler, I'll dive into the one inside the cat enclosure and clean it up as well. I should add that I'm not the greatest gardener in the world. And living where I do, most of my plants are drought-tolerant species.

The problem is I hate getting bitten by ants, I'm mildly allergic to them. They make me itch like crazy. I'm also mildly allergic to wasp and bee stings. I won't die from them I just swell up some and it hurts like hell.

Writing-wise: I've been taking note on a new series that I'm thinking of writing. I haven't got a name for it yet, as I'm still trying to flesh out the characters and scenarios... This will be an MF series. I'll let you know more when I do.

I'm also cat-sitting for a while young miss Daisy has come to stay. Baby, Harper and Mum, Emily both have a bad case of hay fever. Daisy is enjoying her time here with Robson and Oliver. They drive me nuts playing chasey through the house at all hours of the night. Through the day they are just happy to find a cool spot and sleep the day away.

I've Been Busy

For the past couple of weeks, I've been busy. Not only have I been working on my last 9 books for 2020, but I have been doing a couple of sets of edits for Wardens of the Guild 3: Heartstrings, and sent them back to Rebecca B at Pride Publishing. I've also picked the cover for it, and I can't wait to get the real thing.

I have Cotter's Girls 1: TASH at the beta readers. I hope to have Lancaster's Way 3: Pre-loved finished within the next week. As soon as it is it will be off to the beta readers as well. Then the next one on my list is to finish off The Connelly Chronicles 3: Because of You.

Not sure what real edits I have coming to me next, but I'll let you know as soon as I get some. I'll also show the cover as soon as I get it. I hope you all like it as much as I do.

Working on

Today I'm doing more of the plotlines for my stories. I'm serious about being prepared for 2021. I know that I won't be able to write them all in 2021 and have them released. But I'll have the potential of working on anyone that I want to and basically know where it's supposed to be going. As long as I know the beginning and the end I don't mind if the middle changes a tad.

And this time around I'm writing it all out in longhand as well as having a copy on the computer. I'm one of those weirdos who likes to have a paper copy on hand. Plus, I have a shit tone of loose-leaf paper to get through, (Christmas gifts from my kids throughout the years━I knew it would never go to waste).

This is kind of my happy place so don't knock me. These days I'm trying to do things that don't stress me out and plotting the stories even if I do eventually stray from the plotted path helps get the stories out of my head for the time being. I'm keeping them neatly stored in two red folders. Red is another of my happy places.

On that note I'm out of here I have some more to think about plotline wise for The Lines of Marsden 7: Love You, Hate You, Need You, then I'm working on Experimentals 4: Movements in the Dark... and if I have time Wardens of the Guild 4: Gilded Cages (the series ender).

Getting Organized...

Okay for the last couple of days I have been going through past NSI's (new story idea's) and checking which ones are worth keeping. So I've been checking out the following series idea's. Seeing what needs to be done to bring them up to scratch, or if the need to be moved onto the back burner. I have some more figuring out to do on these ones.

Dark Frost

Quaide's Crossing

Angellom Hall

Cotter's Girls

Mountain Made

Other than that, I'm catching up on some household chores that really need doing. I really need to do the vacuuming. and cook a Chinese chicken dish ginger and chilli. it's going to be awesome. I love rice so That's what I'll have it with. I also put my car back together... I found the covers that belong in the back and reinstalled them. Now I just have to clean the car out. I'll have to take it down to the car cleaning place when I get a chance and use their industrial vacuums.

I can honestly tell you I do not care for broccoli. I like the stems but not the top bits. they taste bitter to me. I'm only eating it because my doctor is telling me to. Thanks a lot Doc, but I suppose if it's going to help balance out my iron. I'll suffer through it.

I'm watching some more FBI style shows to help me with Lancaster's Way 3: Pre-loved. I need to get into my bad guys head a little and these shows are helping me. because in this instalment I actually want to show some of what the bad guy is thinking so we'll be in his POV for parts of the story.

They're Out

Well, I can tell you my neck has never felt better since the stitches were removed. There is no tender lump still under the skin. I shouldn't even have a scar in another month or so. If I do, it'll be very minimal.

The doctor also told me I'm borderline anaemic, I need to eat more red meat. Also, keep up my intake of spinach, mushrooms, and broccoli. I'm on iron tablets for the next month, and then I have to have another blood test. 

It's all overcast here today, so I'm spending my day trying to hunt down any notes I have on the story idea I had on Dark Frost. I know I have them somewhere.  I need to find what I have so I can see if this new thought I'm having can blend in with it. Or has to be put aside for a completely different story.

I have to get my daughter to bring back my printer as well. she has had it for months. I haven't even had a chance to use it yet. Maybe it'll just be easier to buy another one. I mean they weren't expensive. I'll have to talk to her. Because I know she uses it as well.

I know I try not to mention COVID-19 too often, but I hope everyone in my world that read my blog posts (on both my blogs) that everyone is keeping themselves as safe as possible and not doing crazy shit that will end up with you getting or spreading this dreaded virus. So far my little piece of the world is safe and virus-free, and I hope like hell every day that it stays this way.

Migraine Madness

I have a migraine today and it seems to be situated right behind my left eyeball. Actually, it's not quite a migraine yet. So I've popped all the right pills and I'm hoping for the best and that it'll go away before I have to lock myself away in my room and sleep the day away. I really want to reach my word count for today so I don't have time for a damn headache.

It was a little warmer here this morning at 9° C. So at least we weren't freezing our arses off. Though the cats must be cold as they are cuddled up beside me on the chair. Robson is actually under the knee rug, But Oliver is on top of it beside my legs. That, or they both know I have are headache and are here to comfort me.

All went well at the DR's yesterday. I had my bloods taken, and he said my stitches are looking good. I go back next Friday to have them removed and to get the blood results. I'm not expecting anything to be wrong with them, unless they need to adjust my thyroid medication again━that is always a possibility.

I'm still trying to finish off Cotter's Girls 1: Tash to get it off my WIPS list I have a few that I really want to be finished between now and the end of the year. So those will be the ones I need to concentrate on the most. And as usual, they are the ones I have completely writer's blocked on as well. It sucks to be right now.

I watched Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix yesterday, and let's just say that French guy just made my skin crawl, and I was so mad over the poor guy who was murdered in La Cygne. Damn what a bunch of bigoted arseholes, there is no way with all those people who attended that party they don't know what happened to Alonzo. I was yelling at the screen━what the hell is wrong with you people?

PS: Happy 4th of July to those who celebrate it.

Tax Time

For once I got my taxes organised and sent in before they had to remind me. I'm not saying I'ver ever forgotten them. Okay, last year was a fluke I tells ya. But my accountants were really good at reminding me. They didn't even get mad. And it saves me from having to do it all myself.

The stitches in my neck don't hurt like the last time so I'm happy about that. I can't even tell they are there. They don't even really hurt when I have to ut the antibiotic ointment on them which is good.

Today I decided to cook comfort food for lunch. We are having creamy chicken and mushroom pasta. I can't wait. It is one of my favourite things to eat. What are some of your comfort foods?

I'm also working on→ Cotter's Girls 1:Tash... I've been tidying up 30K and figuring out the ending. I only have between 10-15K to go on this one. It will be another one done and dusted, and off my list.

The last half of 2020 I'm going to try and get as much writing done as I can manage. I need to catch up on some of my projects. I need to be able to make room for others. This year has been a complete disaster for me. And not even because of the whole COVID 19 situation, though admittedly that hasn't helped. I've just been so distracted by other stuff that my writing was put on the back burner, and now I'm scrambling to make up the time I've lost.

Starting over...

This is my new writing station. I'm trying to keep it as clutter-free as possible. The fewer distractions I have at hand the better for me to concentrate on what I'm actually supposed to be doing.

Speaking of distractions, damn was it cool here this morning, 5° even my cats were feeling the riskiness in the air and up for some serious cuddle time.

I've still been working on the new story Ideas and have been typing up the first chapters so I kind of know where I'm heading with them when I eventually get back to them. Though, today I'm kind of tired I had a real shitty nights sleep last night. A couple of possums last night kept setting off the sensor lights downstairs in the carport and on the backstairs. And since the lights are connected to the power of the tattoo shop I live above, and the tattoo shop is currently on shut down due to Covid-19, there really isn't much I can do to rectify the situation. It's not like the possums knew they were doing anything wrong.

I'm cooking a baked dinner for lunch today. trying to use up some of the veg before it goes weirdo. I usually put it through a stew, but we've only just had one of those. Well, I made up a huge pot of chicken noodle soup actually, but it so thick it could be classed as a stew. This week I have to do some biscuit baking for my granddaughter. Restrictions have eased a smidge so she'll be able to come and pick them up.

Is it just me or has the number of SPAM emails increased since we've all been on lockdown... All the things I have apparently won that I never entered competitions for. How much of an idiot do they think I am? I've apparently won iPhones, trips overseas, make-up, plus numerous chances to win a date with some famous guy I have never even heard of before. My finger is getting a workout from the number of times it has hit delete.

Okay, later gates, and I'll talk to you all soonish.

Working on...

Been working on an early draft if a new story idea called: Running Home to You. I thought it would get my mind back into writing mode and I can get back onto the books I'm supposed to be finishing. So I have set myself up a new working station in my bedroom away from all distractions. I got 3.5K written today.

I know I won't get anything down tomorrow as I have to look after my granddaughter, Grace, while her mother is at antenatal at the hospital she only has a few weeks to go until little Harper is born. So for me, tomorrow is a date of having a Toy Story Marathon... I was hoping she'd pick the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but she shut me down. our last Marathon was all musicals.

My brain is on overload.

I know what I should be working on, yet so many other stories are fighting to be put first. so right now instead f forcing myself to work on one story I'm just working on whichever one takes my fancy on any given day. Though I'm limiting myself to five on the go at once, any more than that and it might get confusing. 

That's not counting the ones I'm currently doing edits on for my publishers. So I'll be constantly busy. Here is the list of five, and you can keep track of the wordage on the left-hand side of my blog.

1) The Connelly Chronicles 3: Because of You (MM)

2) Lancaster's Way 3: Pre-loved (MM)

3) Experimentals 3: Messages from the Dead (MM)

4) Mountain Made 1: Haylee's Mountain Man (MF)

5) Cotter's Girls 1: Tash (MF)

Working on now...

1) Today I have a few things I have to do... I need to run downtown and do some errands→ I'm not looking forward to that. I really don't feel like leaving the house.

2) I have to do the washing. I have two loads to do and hang out to dry→ no clothes drier in this house.

3) I have to mow the yard before we get any more rain because we might have more showers this afternoon. Though more rain is always better than the fires we have been having, I just hope it doesn't go the other way and turn into major flooding.

4) I also have to catch up on the housework I missed yesterday due to watching the 10hr bushfire concert. It was an awesome event and hopefully raised a lot of money for the cause.

5) I'm also working on Cotter's Girls 1: Tash. I'm 21K into it. I'm not sure how long this one will be I'll aim for 40K, but I think this one may well and truly go over that mark.

6) It's my mum's 88th birthday so I get to spend time with her... Happy birthday Mum→ LOVE YA!

Getting back on track.

Okay, I'm finally getting back on track, I've had some family distractions that have kept me from the computer for the last couple of weeks. It's been raining on and off here for the last month. At least it seems to be putting out the fires going on all over the country. It's all overcast again today, so we might get another shower.

I got over my virus, though I still seem to have the lingering headache hanging on from it. Hopefully, it will bugger off soon.

Even though I have been away from the computer, it doesn't mean I haven't been working on other things in my writing world. I've been going through my notes on my back burner books and seeing which ones that need tweaking, which ones are total crap and can be gotten rid of, which ones are worth keeping and moving into my WIPS list. I didn't realise just how many pieces of scribbled on bits of paper I actually had, I haven't finished going through it all yet, but I'm getting there.

With the wet weather, I've also been doing another house clean. I can tell you I don't understand where the dust fricken comes from. I seem to wipe down one day and the next day it seems to come back double the amount. It's driving me nuts. And the weather is playing havoc on my shoes, it's making them peel, but I think that had more to do with the major heatwave we just went through than the rain we have now.

I did have another scan of my spine→this time m upper spine, and apparently, it's just as screwed up as my lower spine. I just can't win. So, I have to be a little more careful, but it's manageable with the exercises, and diet for the moment. I still have to get down to 75kg (165.34lbs)... 11kg (24.25lbs) to go. Wish me luck.

Up & Running...

The new Year has begun and I currently have 3 projects on the go. I will be this rushed for the first 2 months and then things will slow down because I will have caught up and be where I am supposed to be at in my writing schedule.

The Connelly Chronicles 3: Because of You I started the year off at 50K only another 50 to go.

Lancaster's Way 3: Pre-loved I started off at just over 5K so I still have 35K to go.

Experimentals 3: Messages from the Dead I started off at 1.5K mainly because I lost all my long-handed version and have to start again...go me. so that leaves me with 38.5K to go. 

Even with all of this I still say I will be caught up by the end of February. I will keep you all informed of my progress as I go along wish me luck.

Writing List 2020

Happy New Year everyone

I hope 2020 is good for us all.

This is my writing list for 2020━ they are listed in no particular order. So I"ll let you know what I'm working on as I'm working on it, okay? I only know when I have to have the two Christmas Novella's done by... so they are the only ones set in stone at the moment. I have two series I want to finish this year━ so wish me luck.

The Connelly Chronicles 3: Because of You - 100

Admetus Gaea 2: Broken Serenity - 40

Admetus Gaea 3: New World Alliance - 40

Cotters Girls 1: Tash – 40—M/F

Destiny House 1: Saving Shane - 40

Destiny House 2: Needing Norman - 40

Experimentals 3: Messages from the Dead - 40

Experimentals 4: Movements in the Dark - 40

Intended Mates 2: Dancing to the Sounds of Madness - 40

Intended Mates 3: Take my Hand - 40

Lancaster’s Way 3: Pre-loved - 40

Lancaster’s Way 4: Riding Fences - 40

Lancaster’s Way 5: A Stuart Family Christmas – 40—Xmas Novella/ends series

Sons of Evenmore 4: Life, Death, and Ever After - 40

The Connelly Chronicles 4: Just Good Friends - 100

The Lines of Marsden 5: On the 12th Day – 50—Xmas Novella

The Lines of Marsden 6: And Then You Die – 100—ends 1st line

Toowoomba Boys 4: Securing the Heart - 40

Toowoomba Boys 5: Bending the Law - 40

Wardens of the Guild 4: Guilded cages - 40—Ends series

As The Decade Ends

Normally I'd have a picture of fireworks but this year I'm boycotting them, due to the number of bushfires we still have raging in our country. So I thought I'd give you something else pretty to look at.

I can't believe another decade has come and gone. So the question is did we get done what needed to get done? And you know by my post yesterday that I almost made it but not quite━there was only one on my list I didn't finish. Though, in saying that, I did accomplish a lot.

I managed to write and tweak a few formerly written books to resubmit them for rehousing and so far this year this is what I have accomplished:

1> Admetus Gaea 1: The Gaean Prophecy>>> Formerly Silver Publishing ~ now MLRPress.

2> The Lines of Marsden 4: The Trail of Red Roses

3> Hidden Hearts 1: Harder & Harder to Breathe>>> Formerly Fireborn Publishing

4> Hidden Hearts 2: One Last Kiss Goodbye>>> Formerly Fireborn Publishing

5> Moon Runners 1: Heart-mate Mine!>>> Formerly Fireborn Publishing

6> Moon Runners 2: I Won't Let You Go

7> Sons of Evenmore 3: Fear the Scarlet Moon
8> Wardens of the Guild 3: Heartstrings

Cotter's Girls

Someone sent me this picture a few years ago now, and it always made me think of my story TASH. Even though the two main characters in my story are a little older than this pair.

Really, they don't even look like the mains, but a couple of the secondaries who'll eventually get their own story.

I don't even know what it was about this story that made me want to keep it, but I have for years now. The truth is I don't even remember who sent it to me, but I'll be forever thankful to them.

This is one of the series in my next years writing plan... fair warning it is M/F. But I don't mind, and if you don't like that, then don't read it. I need to get these stories out of my head to make room for the gazillion others... so there you go. Vlad thinks the story is awesome... but he could be a tad bias when it comes to my writing.

Okay, this is it.

Today  I'm still sick as all get-go, but I managed to drive myself and my 87-year-old mother to the doctor to get checked out... Good news is, it's just the flu, and mine hasn't turned into bronchitis like last year... Bad news is, we now have a ton of medication to take and it makes me as drowsy as hell. So hopefully now, I'll be on the mend.

Even though I haven't been able to concentrate enough to actually write. I have managed to fill in some of my spreadsheets and update my character profiles. Currently, I'm working on the preternatural universe that revolves around Sons of Evenmore and will eventually involve the beginning and end of the timeline = Pack Matters & Watson Falls.

I'm still waiting o hear back from my editor about two projects and expected timelines. As soon as I know the answer I can basically work out in which order I want to write everything next year. If I don't hear back from her soon I'll email her again. Christie N is actually in the midst of editing The Lines of Marsden 4: The Trail of Red Roses for me. I'm hoping to start writing again as soon as I get rid of my damn headache and my eyes stop watering.

On Hold...

My NaNoWriMo came to a halt yesterday because I had to do a little bit of research. Funnily enough, it's with the first book I ever wrote for NaNoWriMo, Watson Falls 1: Between One Heartbeat & the Next. Something that is happening in my current book relates to that one and I have to go back and see what the go was. Just so it all makes sense. I hope to finish Sons of Evenmore 3: Fear the Scarlet Moon today as planned. If not I'll come pretty damn close.

We Can All Stop Looking...

I finally found that amazingly safe place I stashed my plot drafts book for all my storylines.  I was so fricken lost without it. Not that I actually follow what I've written too closely, but at least it gives me a beginning and an end. It also gives me a loose transcript of how to get there. The rest is entirely up to me. (Yes... I know I write them both... the plotlines and the stories), but I never follow the scripts I set out, my characters always seem to have other ideas.

EXAMPLE #1: Way back when I started writing The Lines of Marsden 1: The Rules are Meant to be Broken all those years ago, it was going to be Michael and Christian all the way. Benj and Doyle had other plans though and demanded I change things, or at least they bribed Vlad (the keeper/manager of the carnage inside my head) to divert the storyline to their way of thinking, (he's so easily bought).

EXAMPLE #2: I want The Connelly Chronicles 3: Because of You to go one way, and the characters keep messing with the storyline and sending me off in a whole different direction completely. So at the moment, we are at a standoff. I really need to get this one done by the end of the year so I hope one of us give in soon. I dare say Nate and Dan will win, especially if GG and Girly have anything to say about it

EXAMPLE #3: The boys in Sons of Evenmore 3: Fear The Scarlet Moon have decided to throw the script completely out the window and write their own, and now I'm trying to steer them back to where I need them to be at the end of this current story, or the next one won't make any sense. I wonder if I'll manage it. Phoenix, Linkin, and Cooper are fighting me the whole way.

EXAMPLE #4: Shane from  The Connelly Chronicles wants me to stop writing him as a douchebag, and give him his own story so he can redeem himself and get his happily-ever-after. I keep telling him it's not as simple as that, but do you think he's listening. I secretly think Vlad is egging them all on. No wonder I have a migraine most days.

EXAMPLE #5: Don't even get me started on the previously released books that I need to find new homes for as some of them want me to change them completely and I'm not sure that is advisable two of the main contenders are The Diamond Rose 1: The Gateway to Kalethia... and The Freedomers 1: Zephania's Chance (in this one some characters are demanding I change their sex for the rewrite) I'll have to enquire about that one.