Monday, Countdown to Mother's Day

Often around Thanksgiving time, people spend a few moments in the preceding days writing about things for which they are thankful. The effort tends to promote a positive attitude as well as remind us that life is filled with much good.  In this same spirit, I have decided to use this week before Mother's Day to share things for which I am extremely thankful I gained from my mother. And because I love quotes and poetry, each day from now until Mother's Day will include an original quote pertaining to mothers.


Day 7

Today I have thought a lot about important things my mother taught me, and there is one truth above all else I am thankful she took the time to instill in my developing sense of identity: that is the knowledge that I am a child of God.  She taught me to believe in God, to pray and speak to Him daily, and to understand that He is my Heavenly Father.  This not only boosts my confidence but encourages me to strive to reach my greater potential and to live as a daughter in whom He would be well-pleased.  I am thankful my mother took the time to teach me of spiritual things.  I am a better person because of it.

"I am, for the most part, who I am

because my good mother was who she was."

— Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway: Quotes, Verse, & Grumblings for Every Day of the Year

TUESDAY, DAY 6

When is Book IV Coming Out?!

Parker,

Rest assured, the 4th book is coming out very soon; it is scheduled for release this summer. The 5th book will follow closely after, most likely to be released sometime during the upcoming winter season.

I, like you, have been frustrated by the length of time it is taking to get all six books in the Harrowbethian Saga published and available for readers to enjoy. Switching from one publisher to an entirely self-pub platform forced me to start over with editing, formatting, and finally releasing book 1 in the Eena series. And then there were my other books that also required time and attention. I now have eight total books out for readers to enjoy (three Eena books.) That is a big accomplishment considering the small amount of free time I have to devote to this process.

The fact is, most indie writers, like myself, hold a day job in order to pay the bills. This chews up a great amount of our waking hours--hours I would most certainly prefer to spend writing. After work, there is family to care for, meals to prepare, and house chores requiring at least a minimal amount of attention. That leaves maybe an hour or two in the evening to devote to my books.

I appreciate your anxious wait, and I will try to work faster to get the remainder of the Harrowbethian Saga edited, formatted, and published ASAP! For you, Parker, I have posted the first chapters of this book on my author blog--something to help with your wait. Just visit the webpage below. Thank you for your eager question, for your interest in my books, and for your incredible patience. Now, I better get back to editing Eena book 4!

http://eenabookfour.blogspot.com/

Slaying Dragons Week―Day 7

Today is the last day of "Slaying Dragons Week." I have been celebrating the release of my book, Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year by sharing a daily quote from the book as well as a bit of trivia regarding the making of it. Here is the quote for today:

"I once dreamt that the man in the moon took an interest in me and reflected the sun’s light directly in my path, lighting the way for my footsteps to sink themselves into the ground. It was wonderful to have my course illuminated by one with a grander perspective than my own. But when I awoke, realizing I could not call on the moon for guidance, my spirit sank until it occurred to me I could talk to the one who had created the moon. And He has lit my path ever since.”

Did you know that you have a chance to win a signed copy of Slaying Dragons? Well, you do if you enter to win at Goodreads.com. Starting May 5th, 2017, you can enter to win a paperback copy signed by the author! (That would be me.) I hope you take the time to enter, and if you missed any portion of "Slaying Dragons Week," just scroll through previous posts to read quotes from the book and learn a few fun trivia facts about the book. Don't forget to leave ratings and reviews anytime you finish reading a good book. It helps an author tremendously!

Goodreads: Slaying Dragons Giveaway!

Slaying Dragons Week―Day 6

We are nearing the end of "Slaying Dragons Week" in which I am celebrating the release of my book, Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year. Every day this past week I have shared a quote from the book as well as a bit of trivia regarding the making of it. Here is the quote for today:

"Love by the sweat of thy brow.
Not through whispered words of hollow sound or lofty dreams ne’er substance bound that more than oft do run aground. Nay, love with mighty, blistered hands that turn the soil and carve the land. A bearer of toil and golden band.
Be strong! A founder of the feast!
Protective knight who slays the beast!
For promises and vows aloud are naught but wispy veneer shroud like cobwebs, frail, the airy words and wooing fail. So work, my darling. Toil as proof. Thy loyal heart be drained of youth and yet beat on, incessant sound. Both feet take root within the ground, and service be thy kingly crown.
Love by the sweat of thy brow.”


Did you know that I included more short stories in Slaying Dragons than in its predecessor, Making Wishes? Both books have something to read and ponder for every day of the year, mostly original quotes and poetry; however, I thought it a fun idea to also include the occasional short story. For your reading pleasure today, visit the following link and read one short story from Slaying Dragons. You will find it under March 5th. Go on now and enjoy Raccoon's Story!

Slaying Dragons Week―Day 5

It is "Slaying Dragons Week" in which I am celebrating my newly-released book, Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year. Day five already, and I am continuing to share a daily quote from the book, as well as a bit of trivia regarding the making of it. Here is the quote for today:

"When it comes to fighting for your dreams, be a dragon. Breathe fire.” 

Did you know that the dragon on the cover of Slaying Dragons has the same red gems in his eyes as the dragon on the back cover of my first ever book, Eena, The Dawn and Rescue? Take a good look in the dragons' eyes and you will find the shape of ruby gems. Why is this? It is a fact discovered by Queen Eena that every dragon mirrors in his eyes the same color of gemstones that line the egg from which he was hatched. The red-eyed dragon I call Ascultone. He was never a pleasant beast.

Slaying Dragons Week―Day 4

Welcome to day four of "Slaying Dragons Week" in which I am celebrating my newly-released book, Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year. I am sharing daily quotes from the book this week, as well as a bit of trivia regarding the making of it. Here is the quote for today:

“Everything in the world that happens to you may be someone else's doing; I'll grant you that. But what you do with it, how you react to it, what you make of yourself in the midst of it all—that's totally you.” 

Did you know that this book is the third I have written of its kind? Two collections of my original quotes and poetry precede it. The first is Smile Anyway, dedicated to my sister. The second is Making Wishes, dedicated to my eldest son. In total, all three amount to over 1,000 daily inspirations! A fairly decent accomplishment, if I do say so myself!

Slaying Dragons Week―Day 3

Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year

This is day three of "Slaying Dragons Week" in which I am celebrating a big accomplishment―my new book. It is a wonderful collection of original quotes, poetry, and short stories for every day of the year. In honor of “Slaying Dragons Week,” I am sharing a daily quote from the book, as well as a bit of trivia relating to the making of it. Here is the quote for today:

“There are tomorrows on their way worth the struggles of today. Never give up.”

Did you know that I wrote this book almost entirely on sticky notes? Yes, it is true! Authors are constantly writing in their heads, and I am no exception. While at my day job, I frequently reach for sticky notes to jot down poetic lines and insightful human truths as well as story ideas that form in my mind, often at inopportune times. But to fail to record a "muse moment" often results in losing it forever! Not worth the risk!

Now that the book is done and published, I have a substantial collection of quotes and poetry scribbled on sticky notes that altogether form the raw, unedited makings of Slaying Dragons. I think I will keep the collection and maybe hand it down to my children someday.