Whether we end up sticking to them or not, everyone has their resolution list, full of do's and don'ts, ready to launch on January 1st.
As a rule, I don't make a list, as I never stick to resolutions. So this year, I decided to come up with just a simple goal to get me through the year. One that I can mold and shape into any given situation:
Work hard and do the best I can.
I can apply this to work, writing, dieting, trying new things...anything really. And if I fail in one area, I can always succeed in another. It may sound like I'm taking the easy way out of bettering myself for the new year, but who can argue with simply trying you best?
On that note, I hope everyone has a great New Year! And if 2012 really does mark the end of the world, head South. Near water (if it's a zombie invasion). That's where the hubby, pugs, and I will be.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Merry Christmas from me to you...
It's not possible for me to reach out to everyone individually during the holiday season, so I thought I'd share some of my personal holiday favorites on my website. So take a moment, mute the television, and sit back and relax.
It just isn't Christmas without listening to Cheech & Chong's Santa Claus and His Old Lady. The local radio stations always played this around the holidays when I was growing up. Every year, I download this from YouTube and pretend I'm a kid again, driving around in the car with my folks, quoting every line to the best Christmas story ever concieved since Charles Dickens.
Turn up the volume and sing along with me to some of my favorite Christmas tunes. I've never been into Christmas Carols (probably because I can't sing), but sometimes there are songs that brighten up your day and make you laugh, while others make you reflect and make you cry.
Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses (1981) is simply the best Christmas song ever...
Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keen (1994), is the epitome of a Texas-style Christmas. If you're from Lone Star State (or the South), y'all will understand...
Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton (1982) is hands down one of my favorites. I wait for it to come on the radio every December so I can sing (and cry) along...(I'm crying right now as I'm listing to this).
Merry Christmas...from my casa to yours!!!
It just isn't Christmas without listening to Cheech & Chong's Santa Claus and His Old Lady. The local radio stations always played this around the holidays when I was growing up. Every year, I download this from YouTube and pretend I'm a kid again, driving around in the car with my folks, quoting every line to the best Christmas story ever concieved since Charles Dickens.
Turn up the volume and sing along with me to some of my favorite Christmas tunes. I've never been into Christmas Carols (probably because I can't sing), but sometimes there are songs that brighten up your day and make you laugh, while others make you reflect and make you cry.
Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses (1981) is simply the best Christmas song ever...
Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keen (1994), is the epitome of a Texas-style Christmas. If you're from Lone Star State (or the South), y'all will understand...
Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton (1982) is hands down one of my favorites. I wait for it to come on the radio every December so I can sing (and cry) along...(I'm crying right now as I'm listing to this).
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Year in Review
I can't believe it's the end of Round 4 for ROW80! I also can't believe that I stuck with ROW80 for 3 rounds (thats almost an entire year)! Wait, actually, I can. The amount of support and camaraderie from my fellow ROW80's was enough to keep me going. I don't know what I would have done without y'all. Seriously.
This final update will also serve as my Year in Review, so to speak. I have accomplished so much in such a short period of time, it only makes sense to tie this into my update, for I wouldn't have gotten this far without a little encouragement...
My goal for ROW80 (every round) was simple: write everyday. I figured that writing everyday, even if it was a minimal amount, would lead me to my ultimate goal - to publish my first book. And while I often wavered on my goals, I managed to publish a short novella AND my debut novel.
Of course, this last round was supposed to get me towards the end of book 2 in my series and while I didn't quite finish, I am almost done! I hope to spend the rest of December finishing the dreaded first draft.
I've come along way since last December, when I decided I was going to pursue my dreams and focus on my writing. But I didn't just focus and accomplish what I set out to do...I met some fabulous friends in the process. I thank you guys for commenting on my posts, beta reading, promoting my book, being a shoulder to cry on, and above all - just being there.
And if you're still reading this post, here are some 2011 highlights:
*Published my first story (The Fury)
*Published my debut novel (Parallel)
*October blog tour
*December book signing
*Third short story published (Demonic Dolls Anthology)
*Interviewed J.A. Konrath and Blake Crouch
*Participated in ROW80
*Sold over 700 ebooks in 4 months (Parallel)
I had none of those things last December. All I had was an idea for a story and it just snowballed from there.
And just to be sure you get the message...I couldn't have done this without you guys. Sure, I can write a story and upload it, but it means nothing without you, dear readers.
This final update will also serve as my Year in Review, so to speak. I have accomplished so much in such a short period of time, it only makes sense to tie this into my update, for I wouldn't have gotten this far without a little encouragement...
My goal for ROW80 (every round) was simple: write everyday. I figured that writing everyday, even if it was a minimal amount, would lead me to my ultimate goal - to publish my first book. And while I often wavered on my goals, I managed to publish a short novella AND my debut novel.
Of course, this last round was supposed to get me towards the end of book 2 in my series and while I didn't quite finish, I am almost done! I hope to spend the rest of December finishing the dreaded first draft.
I've come along way since last December, when I decided I was going to pursue my dreams and focus on my writing. But I didn't just focus and accomplish what I set out to do...I met some fabulous friends in the process. I thank you guys for commenting on my posts, beta reading, promoting my book, being a shoulder to cry on, and above all - just being there.
And if you're still reading this post, here are some 2011 highlights:
*Published my first story (The Fury)
*Published my debut novel (Parallel)
*October blog tour
*December book signing
*Third short story published (Demonic Dolls Anthology)
*Interviewed J.A. Konrath and Blake Crouch
*Participated in ROW80
*Sold over 700 ebooks in 4 months (Parallel)
I had none of those things last December. All I had was an idea for a story and it just snowballed from there.
And just to be sure you get the message...I couldn't have done this without you guys. Sure, I can write a story and upload it, but it means nothing without you, dear readers.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Debutante Ball - Feast of Debut Authors
I may be well and married and too old for a coming out party, but when I found out about this tour, I just had to pull out my dance card and participate!
For those of you who are new to my site, I recently published my debut novel, Parallel, the first in the Travelers Series. I am currently working on book two in the series, Paradox.
I really wanted to put this post to good use and do a quick rundown of who would I would cast to star in the lead roles if Parallel ever got picked up and made into a movie (or even a t.v. show, I'm not picky). But I couldn't! I couldn't find the right Cooper and Etta, well I guess the image of her is spoiled due to the cover.
** Contest ENDS the 31st of December!
Winners will be announced at the end of the tour on January 2nd on each participating author's blog.
*US residents can enter to win a signed paperback copy of Parallel. International residents will be registered to win an ebook copy.
For more chances to win, check out the following author blogs on December dates below!
For those of you who are new to my site, I recently published my debut novel, Parallel, the first in the Travelers Series. I am currently working on book two in the series, Paradox.
I really wanted to put this post to good use and do a quick rundown of who would I would cast to star in the lead roles if Parallel ever got picked up and made into a movie (or even a t.v. show, I'm not picky). But I couldn't! I couldn't find the right Cooper and Etta, well I guess the image of her is spoiled due to the cover.
Destiny has a way of catching up. Saddled with powers she doesn’t understand, Etta Fleming’s world is turned upside-down the day she meets Cooper Everett, the man who transports her to an alternate reality. A reality she was meant to be a part of.
One minute, she’s an orphan living at Dominion House for Girls, an institution for delinquent foster kids, then finds herself attending the exclusive Dominion Hall Academy.
Plucked from the only world she’s ever known, Etta now has to deal with an aunt she never knew, a boyfriend she doesn’t know, and a best friend who can’t know.
Here's what folks have to say about Parallel:
Here's what folks have to say about Parallel:
"I give this one a five out of five - an entertaining, fast paced, page turner..." Heather, Bewitched Bookworms
"I anticipated a fun read but I was blown away by how much I loved Parallel..." Jenn, Tynga's Reviews
"Ms. Lefeve did one heck of a job keeping me entertained but also keeping me at bay from answers till the end...Seriously Ms. Lefeve, you are brilliant..." Savy, Books with Bite
"This book has everything it has to offer to all the readers who wanted to take on a new journey of reading...Absolutely Fascinating! Two Thumbs-up!" Clarissa, Teen Readers Diary
"I anticipated a fun read but I was blown away by how much I loved Parallel..." Jenn, Tynga's Reviews
"Ms. Lefeve did one heck of a job keeping me entertained but also keeping me at bay from answers till the end...Seriously Ms. Lefeve, you are brilliant..." Savy, Books with Bite
"This book has everything it has to offer to all the readers who wanted to take on a new journey of reading...Absolutely Fascinating! Two Thumbs-up!" Clarissa, Teen Readers Diary
Want a signed copy of Parallel? Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win* during the debutante tour!
** Contest ENDS the 31st of December!
Winners will be announced at the end of the tour on January 2nd on each participating author's blog.
*US residents can enter to win a signed paperback copy of Parallel. International residents will be registered to win an ebook copy.
12 Elizabeth Mueller elizabethmueller.
13 Regan Guerra reganguerra.blogspot.com
14 Melissa Pearl melissapearl.blogspot.
15 Claudia Lefeve claudialefeve.com
16 Joseph Beekman
15 Claudia Lefeve claudialefeve.com
16 Joseph Beekman
17 Pendragon Innmen PendragonWrites.com
19 Alex J. Cavanaugh alexjcavanaugh.
20 Gillian Schafer gillianjoy-
21 FiaunaLund formyfour.blogspot.com
21 FiaunaLund formyfour.blogspot.com
22 Anastasia V. Pergakis
23 H. Linn Murphy murph4slaw.blogspot.com
23 H. Linn Murphy murph4slaw.blogspot.com
26 Tanya Contois speedyreader-
27 Patti Larsen pattilarsen.blogspot.
28 Red Tash RedTash.com
29 Annetta Ribken wordwebbing.com
30 Cindy Hogan watched-thebook.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)