Welcome to Kindred Spirits. Are you a writer? A reader? Probably so or else you wouldn't be visiting, and that means YOU are a Kindred Spirit. Growing up in a non-reading family, I was called lazy for always having my nose in a book. They didn't understand my passion for reading-or writing-or how losing myself in the pages of a novel could take me... everywhere.
Kindred Spirits Blog is a blog about you, me, books, life. Everything we Kindred Spirits have in common. I hope you'll read along and participate. I'll have lots of prizes, new faces, favorite books, recipes and more. Stick around, prop up your feet, get comfortable. We're all friends here...
This weekend I met my writing goals and spent some time surfing the net, catching up on Facebook, reading and generally relaxing. But while I was on FB, I noticed a post by a friend and clicked on it–and I’m sooooooo glad I did!
I listen to all types of music. I like rock, country, alternative, jazz, blues, classical–you name it, I like it, with the exception of some rap where the lyrics are simply long strings of obscenities.
Anyway, by clicking on that link, I discovered a new-to-me musician by the name of Madeleine Peyroux. Have you heard of her? I hadn’t. Now I can’t get enough and have begged the dh to buy every CD he can find for me for Valentine’s Day. There is just something about her husky, rich voice. Ahhh, to be able to sing like that! (Says the woman who can’t carry a tune in a bucket.)
I snagged a couple of her videos off of YouTube for your enjoyment. Hope you like them.
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Or this one titled Careless Love:
This music is perfect for those times when you’re relaxing in a tub or cooking or doing pretty much anything. Which brings me to my next questions::: What other music artists have I missed??? Who do you recommend?
We have a new puppy in the Stockham household. Her name is Ella, and she’s a Yorkshire Terrier-Maltese mix. (Ella is the one on the right.) Isn’t she adorable? Could you resist that face?
I couldn’t. And when her owners (family) needed to sell her and her sister for Christmas money for their family, well, hello. It was for a good cause, right?
The one on the left actually wound up being sold to one of my critique partners so our Crit meetings have now become doggie play dates. LOL
But back to my story–I have a theory. There’s a reason God made puppies cute. My take? It’s so you don’t hurt them when they pee and poop on the floor for the umpteenth time after they’ve gone outside and taken care of business there, allowing you to think your carpet and hard wood floors are safe when in reality–it’s only the beginning.
And just so you don’t think Ella is in danger of having her furry little butt tossed out in the snow, she’s not. She’s simply precious and adorable which confirms that God knew what he was doing when he made puppies cute because otherwise no one would tolerate them. LOL
Ella’s given us so many laughs since we got her before Christmas (and, yes, before anyone says it I do realize winter is the WORST time to get and train a puppy. We are at fault–but she is sooooo cute!). She’s the fastest little thing on four paws, she can scramble under a three inch space beneath the couch in 0.2 seconds, nearly do back flips simply by jumping too high trying to get something, and resembles a living, breathing teddy bear. Nope. No danger there. You can’t look at that little face and those little eyes and be mean. It’s impossible. I’ve tried. LOL
Do you have any animal stories to share? Any training tips? My carpet and floors could sure use them!
Anyone else looking forward to Valentine’s Day and Dear John? I have to admit, I’m not normally a Nicholas Sparks fan but Channing Tatum is too adorable in the previews to resist. And Valentine’s Day–with that many stars how can you not go? I love movies, especially movies about love, romance and all the excitement of falling in love.
Oh, and who could forget the newest Twilight movie is scheduled for June (I think). What movies are you looking forward to this year? Or should I simply ask:::Team Jacob or Team Edward?
I don’t know if you’ve heard of this book but I’m about to become very familiar with it. You see, on Harlequin’s website a link was posted about a new book launching titled Menopause Makeover. So, me being the curious person I am, I clicked on the link, watched the book video and immediately stuck my hand up in the air and waved it back and forth like the brainiac in school. Me, me, me!
Due to a much necessary surgery eight years ago, I went into menopause–and nothing has been the same since. Don’t get me wrong, I needed the surgery and feel soooooo much better now than I did–but nothing is the same. My skin, my hair, weight. ACK!
According to the video and reviews, this book covers all those things and more, and it’s geared toward women like me. (And you?)
I haven’t received my copy of the book yet but on February 1, I’ll be starting a new adventure and blogging my way along the process both here and on the eharlequin.com website. I’ll keep you posted on my successes, failures and all around moodiness along the way.
Did you start a diet at the beginning of the year? How are you doing? Sticking with it?
Because after two years of not making a lot of them, I have some changes in the works for the website. I’ve added some categories to the blog titles, have some exciting guests coming up, new contests, lots of fun and lots of changes. It’ll take some time to implement them but we’re on our way!
I also have an important anniversary coming up. Nope, not marriage or kid-related but business related, as in–the FIFTH anniversary of getting “the Call” as we writers put it. That fabulous phone call from an editor (my first editor), stating that she wanted to buy my manuscript. Five years and…fifteen contracted books. Not bad, if I say so myself. So I need to come up with something FUN to help celebrate. Any ideas???
In my last post, one of the responses to a question was a request for blogs telling where a book idea came from, why I chose it etc. That got me thinking about the book I just turned in. Where the idea came from is easy–Caroline “Carly” Taggert was a secondary character in one of my first books titled Montana Skies. A girl then, she had issues with self-doubt, self-worth, and dealt with more than the normal teenage angst because of her mother’s abandonment.
I had so many requests for Carly and the other girl, Skylar, to ‘grow up’ and get their own stories. It’s taken a while, because in my head it took time to figure out the whys and hows and wheres. But I’m happy to report Carly’s story kicks off a new Montana-set series that looks to be so much fun, peopled with hunky guys and lots of emotion because what is more complicated than family? Ooooh, I love the juiciness writing brings to the surface!
So for those of you wanting to know what’s next after Alexandra Tulanes’ story She’s the One, there you have it. Grab a copy of Montana Skies and read about my ‘girls.’ Because now, they’re not girls anymore. The first book in the series is Carly and Liam’s, then Brad and Gabriella, then Chance and Jenna. After that, I’ll stay in Montana with Skylar’s story. And oooooh does it have some surprises!
Question of the day::: What is your favorite story line? Do you have a theme you love to read again and again?
Every little while I like to ask my readers a few questions about promotion. And because the economy is what it is, every author out there is trying to figure out how to get the most bang for their hard-earned buck. So, without further wait:
1) What do you like to see on websites? Blogs? FAQs? Photos? Something different like…?
2) What types of promotion gets your attention?
Banner ads?
Excerpts?
Blog Tours?
Free reads?
Pens, bookmarks etc?
3) If a booksigning was in your area, would you cancel your plans to attend, or go later in the hopes the author left behind some autographed books? Do you attend booksignings or are you uncomfortable when it comes to meeting authors face-to-face?
4) Do you regularly read blogs? If so, what draws you back again and again? Does an author’s blog mean an automatic buy for you the next time the author has a book out?
5) What gets you to pick up a book? Is it the cover? The blurb on the back? Word of mouth buzz?
I know I’ve asked a lot of questions–but having had a lot of discussions on the above topics with other authors, well, we’re ALL curious as to what works and what doesn’t. So to entice you to respond….
I’ll choose 3 winners from those who post their answers and you’ll get your choice of MONTANA SKIES, MAN WITH A PAST, HIS PERFECT WOMAN, A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER, ANOTHER MAN’S BABY, HIS SON’S TEACHER, HER BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER, and SIMON SAYS MOMMY.
We’re heading into week three and I thought I’d ask how everyone is doing with their New Year Resolutions?
Every year about this time the produce section looks a little bare. There were only three heads of lettuce left in the bin the other day. I skipped those and chose the bagged spring mix lettuce.
Reading-wise I’ve done pretty well. I hadn’t been reading as much lately and was really missing it but I’ve finished four books and have four more in the process (Yeah, I read more than one book at once. I have books stashed everywhere!).
And then I started thinking about books coming out this year and which books I’m really looking forward to reading. Books like::
Stephanie Tyler’s new “Hard” series. Hard to Hold, Too Hot to Hold, and Hold on Tight
Lori Foster’s Back In Black
Debut Christian/Inspirational romance author Serena Miller’s (a good friend and CP for years!) Finding Love in Sugar Creek, Ohio
Patricia Sargeant’s new NBA series that begins with Heated Rivalry
Catherine Anderson’s Early Dawn (this actually came out in December)
My first ever Nicholas Sparks’ book titled Dear John (If someone dies in this book and it’s considered a “romance” I’m going to be ticked. Romances end HAPPILY, not in tragedy. Just sayin’.).
Debut YA author Kay Cassidy’s The Cinderella Society. Looks like a fun read!
And a non-fiction book called the War of Art. Looks to be interesting!
Those are a few of the ones I have on my list. What’s on your list?
No, I’m not talking about Christmas again. I’m taking an online class this month and part of the class homework is learning to set goals. Daily goals, weekly goals, yearly goals. You pair up with a classmate and go over your goal lists, and your “coach” keeps you on track when you get off course.
Personally, I love this concept–even as I hate it. My coach has already had to reel me in a day this week when I placed other things above my goal of writing daily. So after I’d finished all the things I “had to do” before I could write, even though I was exhausted, I wrote–because I knew I had to answer to my coach as for why I hadn’t otherwise. And because she scares me LOL I wasn’t about to do that!
I love daily goal lists because this class has taught us to keep them realistic. That load of laundry is going to take longer than five minutes. You know it is. But instead of beating myself up about spending more time on it, I’ve now learned to keep a log of how long a task takes me, so the next time it winds up on my goal list, I don’t over-schedule and feel bad about not getting everything done. The class has helped me make realistic time-management decisions, and change my attitude. (Note: It’s a daily struggle with the attitude change but I’ll get there!)
For instance on my daily goal list? It sounds silly but a daily goal is to eat a salad for one meal. That’s it. Just…eat a salad. Not something calorie-heavy and bad for me but something healthy.
A weekly goal is to make it to the store once a week to stock up on salads, fruits and healthy snacks rather than waiting until we run out of everything and hating the entire process of dragging a cart-load through the supercenter.
A yearly goal? Those are more writing related but one is to read at least one non-fiction book per month, on top of all the other books I read in a month’s time. (OT: Any suggestions???? I’m getting a late start this month!)
So what about you??? Are you a list/goal maker? Do you keep things realistic or do you plan and plot and then kick yourself when you fail because Super Woman couldn’t accomplish the list? Have you ever made a daily, weekly and yearly goal list?
If you have any secrets for success, I’d love to hear them!
Cold weather just makes me ache.
The first book in the series is Carly and Liam’s, then Brad and Gabriella, then Chance and Jenna. After that, I’ll stay in Montana with Skylar’s story. And oooooh does it have some surprises! 
LOL I wasn’t about to do that! 