Rambling & Life Thoughts

I've been having the strangest feeling of late, as if I've been forgetting something important... and for the life of me I can't figure out what it is. I don't know how many times this has happened to me of late, and yet I never remember what it is I've forgotten.

So instead, I decided to watch the next episode in The Shadow Hunters on Netflix... it's different from the books, yet so much better than the movie. I've been enjoying it so far.

I still have some clearing out to do until my house is the way I want it to be. Actually it's only minor surplus stuff that I need to go through. I didn't realise just how much office supplies I really had until I moved. So many blank notebooks and loose leaf paper. I guess I'm lucky that I don't have to buy any for at least the next two years. That's even with Emily coming in and permanently borrowing supplies.

At least for the last two days the weather has cooled down a tad. Even though the heat related illness is still running rampant in my little bit of Australia, we at last have a reprieve. I can't wait for it to be cleared up completely. I hate watching it run through the family.

I've spent most of the morning catching up on household chores. Weird just how much satisfaction one can get by doing something so mundane. Yet lately I've been taking so much pleasure in cleaning the house.

Even cooking has become fun again. I like trying new recipes, just seeing if I like the food or not. So much of the preparation is so calming to me. The only downside is my cat, Willow thinks that she needs to be fed every time I walk into the kitchen. I've also spent time cleaning the pantry out and only stocking things I actually use. I get sick of having to get rid of stuff that goes out of date and I have to end up replacing it. Even though I don't eat huge meals anymore... I still enjoy creating each and every meal.

I love being in my new house. I love the fact that it's mine, (well not technically seeing as I don't own the building ─ my brother and his wife does). This house for me is really is a relaxing place to be. I really couldn't wish for anywhere else to be while going through court and everything else to do with the separation from my ex-husband.

I'm hoping that this year is the last of the hard years for me. But wanting it to be over isn't good enough. Sometimes we have to endure the bad shit in life just to find the good. I believe that things can only get better, even if we have to walk through hell to get there. I know everyone has problems.. some less and some more difficult than mine, but with just a little bit of faith in ourselves I know we can get through the worst of what life throws at us. If needed we can lean on each other to help us through the hard times. I believe in each of you as much as I believe in myself. On that note I'll catch you all in the next day or so.

Dang It!!!

Why is it when you forget something it's usually something important? I forgot to change my RACQ (Roadside Assistance for my car). So I finally remembered today and then when I rang them I found out  they hadn't taken my last payment out so I haven't been covered since November 2016 ─ In the end instead of just changing my address I had to pay a reinstatement fee and back pay what was owing. 

Why me? For once I wish shit would go right in my life... Speaking of my life I just found out I have mediation in Brisbane Family Court on 13 April... and if nothing is worked out than we go back to Ipswich Court on 12 May...

I've still had to deal with Centrelink today... I had to upload documents onto their website... which was a whole lot of a pain in the arse for me as I am so not techno savvy... fingers crossed I got them all the right information this time... I bet it's not. Every time I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel, there always seems to be a avalanche blocking my way. Hopefully soon things will start falling into place.

Catching Up On Life

I think my world has finally come unglued. And I don't even mean that in a bad way. My writing plan for February got dumped on it's arse as we have been hit with heat related illnesses, so now I'm playing the biggest game of catch up ever. Hopefully soon the weather will get back on track and start to cool the hell down. there is a major gastro outbreak, it even has some of the old people homes in lock-down until they can clear up the virus. It's freaking scary. 

I'll hopefully be starting first edits on Wardens of the Guild 2: All that Shimmers soon... with my wonderful new editor at Pride ─ Rebecca B. I have filled in the BIF (Book information form), and am now waiting on the contract.

Today I'm back to working on Moon Runners 2: I Won't let you Go for Fireborn... sadly I have to re read what I've already written to figure out where I'm up to.

The Lines of Marsden 4: The Trail of Red Roses for MLRPress is still plodding along, and I'm okay with that. I know it'll get done eventually.

I had to pull out of the Riveting Reads even set for later this year... the why's of it all are too long to get into right now... 

I'm also waiting to hear about the new court date for my case seeing as we had to postpone due to Australian & New Zealand laws not matching up ─ or something along those lines. I'll fill you in when I know more.

I'm still trying to get everything sorted out with Centrelink, but it's still slow going over a year and counting. Hopefully this time I'll have all the information they require. Just when I think I'm done they have more forms for me to fill out.

Other than that life is going well. The family who were here to visit have come and gone back to their own homes. I love my family, but was so glad they weren't here when we all got sick. Mind you in saying that, the gastro outbreak seems to be Australia wide at the moment. On that note I'll away and check in with you in a couple of days.

And The Winner Is

The winner is Jen

Guest Blogging ~ Haley Walsh

Being Read To: 

Audiobooks

AUDIBLELINK

I’m a huge fan of movies as well as a TV addict. I love watching fiction performed. And when it comes to my writing, I write cinematically, too, that is, the dialog is lively and I set the scene so that a reader can clearly see it unfold in their mind, like a movie. And who wouldn’t love to see their work turned into a film or TV show?

I write the Skyler Foxe Mysteries, a series of books with a gay protagonist who is a high school English teacher who stumbles into murders and makes it his job—along with the help of his Scooby Gang of friends who were all former hook-ups—to solve the crimes. It’s a rom-com series full of humor and heart, with Skyler getting himself into all sorts of funny shenanigans and unlikely circumstances (I mean, come on! If you found a dead body, is the first thing on your mind, “I think I can solve this crime!” or is it “Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Call 911!”)

Since Logo isn’t pounding down the door trying to get to produce the series for television, the next best thing is an audiobook.

Now, I was lucky enough to land one of the suddenly most popular narrators around, the versatile and now award-winning Joel Leslie. And quite frankly, if you’ve enjoyed his work, you have me to thank because it was the Skyler Foxe series that gave him his first narrating job.

I love audiobooks! I loved listening to them long before I ventured into the game myself and now I really love them. There is nothing quite like hearing your own words performed so touchingly or with the humor you wrote on the page. In fact, I’m so invested now, I even write my characters hearing Joel’s voice in my head. That’s a huge compliment, by the way.

I have readers who are now confirmed listeners. They will only listen to the audiobook. Hey, who doesn’t like a book read to you? It looks like more and more people are indeed listening to audiobooks. According to a survey conducted by the Audio Publishers Association, there is a rise in the number of audiobooks published every year (35,713, in 2014, nearly double of the previous year’s total of 16,039) and a huge rise in listeners. And since now that they aren’t those bulky packages of CDs and can be uploaded to your phone, it’s easy to take them everywhere with you: shopping, exercising, commuting, or just cleaning the house. God, did that sound like a commercial or what?

My latest Skyler Foxe Mystery, CRAZY LIKE A FOXE, was just released last month and funnily enough, I’d love to offer one for free to the readers of this blog. If you’d like to know more about the series (and see an interview and a video of Joel narrating one of my books—it’s hilarious, by the way) click on over the SkylerFoxeMysteries.com. There’s a contest going on right now and the winner gets their own name in the book as a character in the next Skyler Foxe Mystery, STONE COLD FOXE.

In CRAZY LIKE A FOXE: High school English teacher Skyler Foxe swears he’s done being an amateur sleuth. Instead, he’d rather concentrate on his career as a teacher and on his hot boyfriend and head football coach Keith Fletcher, who is busy with football practice and an interesting new player that puts Keith in the spotlight for a change. But Skyler encounters a few homegrown surprises of his own, not the least of which is the unwelcome appearance of one of Keith’s old flames. What does HE want? And then Skyler is confronted with two shocking bits of news in his own backyard that makes him rethink his own future plans, whatever those are. But all that gets put aside when a murder occurs in plain sight at an outdoor concert. Skyler, his Scooby Gang, and even Keith join in to investigate a murder that’s far too close to home.

GIVE AWAY

Haley Walsh is giving away one copy of the audiobook. To have a chance of winning, leave your name and address so Haley has a way of getting in touch with you.

AUTHOR BIO: With a long history in the arts in Los Angeles, Haley Walsh spent a good part of her early years involved in the theatre and as a freelance graphic designer. Later, she turned a long-time hobby of writing novels into a career and lives a double life as a medieval mystery author under another name Jeri Westerson while living the other half as Haley Walsh, writing about her gay amateur sleuth, high school English teacher Skyler Foxe. Skyler Foxe Mysteries

FIND HALEY HERE

Skyler Foxe Mysteries

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So Fricken Hot

It has been so fricken hot here of late that I now begging winter to hurry the hell up... 45.9* (114.62 F*) and my poor brother was out building my back steps.

I have been struck down with some bug for the last week... so it's thrown my writing schedule out the window... but not to worry I know I'll catch up in the next few weeks... well not this week as I have rellies coming up for Mum's 85th birthday.

Emily is happy, we finally got the spare bed set up, so she no longer hast to sleep on the couch when she comes to visit... or more that I won't wake her up in the morning as she can shut the bedroom door.

Last night it was so hot that I had to bring the cats inside as it was cooler inside than outside. The poor old buggers were suffering with the damn heat as much as we are if not more.

I'm also going to see if I can get into see the optometrist today, I think I may have something wrong with the macular on  my left eye as I have a grey spot in it, (Last time it was a blister, and I'm hoping it'll be the same again this time). It's more a pain in the arse than anything else, and I think it may be the source of my headaches over the last couple of weeks... I'll let you know what I find out, or if I have to go back.

Talking: J.M. Dabney

J.M. Dabney is a recently new found author for me. I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed the stories... that came out wrong. What I mean is for me they were very enjoyable read, and I must admit I've read them quite a few times and enjoy them more with each reading. So here are the first three and the next in line. If you haven't already checked this author out than please do so━you won't regret it.

BERZERKER (Twirled World 1)

Welcome to Twirled World Ink where the crazies run the asylum.

The hum of a tattoo machine was Brian “Berzerker” Anderson’s favorite sound in the world. He’d won a coveted spot at Twirled World Ink with a legend in the business, Gib Phelps. Creating beauty with his large, scarred hands was his happy place—the place where he fit in the world. Although, nothing could remain perfect forever, his boyfriend of over a year decided to move on and up without him in tow. He had two choices, return to living with his friends and co-workers or take an offer too tempting to pass up.

Landon Phelps grew up in an unconventional home as the only child to Legendary Tattoo Artist Gib Phelps and mother, Peaches. He always felt a bit out of place when he became a boring accountant instead of following in his parents’ footsteps. Boundaries were in place early on; he didn’t date the employees of Twirled World Ink. Sometimes rules were meant to be broken. Bezerker was his idea of perfection, large, husky and tattooed; the thick, grab-worthy beard was a bonus. So when the boyfriend became the ex, Landon decided it was time to get his man.

With the help of the matchmaking Twirled Crew, can Landon finally get Berzerker to see him as more than a friend and the employer’s son?

TROUBLE (TW 2)

Model perfect Jimmy “Trouble” Carver had never heard the word no. Tattooed, sexy and the quintessential bad boy Trouble had men falling over themselves to get to him. What people didn’t know about him was he was self-conscious even if life was easy for him. He’d started out as an apprentice at Twirled World Ink after college and never looked back. Trouble was exactly where he wanted to be, although there was one speed bump, his crush refused to go out on a date.

Brody Vaughn worked in a dead-end job, barely making it from paycheck to paycheck. He didn’t have much time for anyone other than his five-year-old daughter Mina and besides he’d never quite found a place in this world he fit. Chunky and average, that's how he felt, except for when Trouble came into the grocery store where he worked. The flirty, gorgeous man asked him out every week with a sexy smile, but Brody had to refuse. It wasn’t as if he wanted to say no, it was just how could he date a man Brody knew he had no business trying to keep.

The Crazies of Twirled World Ink excel at one thing, matchmaking, and they are determined their resident bad boy would get his man. They just had to make sure that neither Trouble or Brody screwed up their plan.

SCARY (TW 3)

Gene Sheridan earned the appropriate nickname when Legend Gib Phelps employed him at Twirled World Ink—Scary. No one made it out of his old neighborhood without scars both mental and physical. At one time, Scary thought he had a chance that is until his ex-boyfriend discovered slumming with someone like him wasn’t worth his trust fund. No-strings hookups became his go-to when he needed to relieve some tension. Co-owning a bar called Brawlers with his best friend, Tank, made it easy to find a body to use for the night. If not happy he was content with his life, but one man made content seem like such a terrible thing.

Elijah Vaughn worried about everything. His life was put on hold at eighteen when his mostly-absent parents died on one of their many adventures leaving him to raise his six-year-old brother, Brody. He’d never had anything or anyone that was just his. When Brody met a tattoo artist named Trouble, Elijah hadn’t realized how much it would change his life too. He met a huge man named Scary and how the man made him feel terrified him.

Tank Davis lost his voice the night he was attacked and had this throat slit ear-to-ear. It kept him in a world of silence. Silent and intimidating, he scared off more men than he drew to him. His best friend Scary and him made a life for themselves in small town Georgia with their bar Brawlers. Most night everyone could find him working security at the door. Scary called in a favor, and Tank met the one man he couldn’t resist, proper and upstanding Elijah Vaughn.

Can one man accept that there’s not one perfect man for him, but two damaged souls who need him to be whole? 

And Coming Soon

Lucky (TW 4)

When someone was asked to describe crazy, if they knew Lee “Lucky” Trenton they’d point at him. Accident prone and without a filter of any kind to tell him to shut up before he says something inappropriate he’s no one’s idea of a perfect partner. Growing up with parents who subscribed to a philosophy of Radical Honesty Lucky and his siblings were doomed from the womb. Lucky found a home away from home at Twirled World Ink, but he didn’t just find a place to belong. He’d found Priest.

Matthew “Priest” Beall ran away from his judgmental family the second he’d earned the money. He’d come in search of Gib Phelps a legend in the tattoo industry. If you wanted to learn the craft, then Gib was the man to beg an apprenticeship with, and he’d begged. Priest might have left the violence of his past behind, but when he closed his eyes it came back to torture him. The only place he felt safe was when his best friend Lucky let him sleep in his arms. He wanted more, but he didn’t think he deserved it.

Priest left his family behind without regret only to find a new one with the crew of Twirled World and the super weird Trenton family. Could he grab onto his new life or would the memories of the past ruin the happiness he’d gained?