ELSPETH IS FINISHED!

I did it! I finished writing Elspeth. I can't believe I achieved it, but I did. Feels so good. So, what I've been doing now is editing it. I just finished chapter 12. I have half of it done. There will be a second round of edits. More in depth as it were. Fine tuning it and all. The last thing I have to do is my work cited page and I'm not too keen on doing that. So much information I have to type in. It's a good thing I saved all the websites to my desktop, but even then, it's painful to do as I'm sure all of you who had to do a research paper will know. Right?

So, once all the edits are done, I have to submit it in, after I submit the book cover. There is one thing before I do all that and that is I have contacted an agent. Something just spoke to me and said, "Go for it." So, I did. I am hoping that if accepted, that it won't mess with my two big events, and the book store that it'll be in. Even if it is accepted, doesn't mean I have to say ok to it. I can turn them down, but we shall see.

But...IT'S FINISHED!

The end is upon us. I wrote three chapters today. I never, ever write during the day, but my time is nearing and I've yet to edit what I've written. I've added a bunch of dialogue this time, so I hope it doesn't sound stupid, but I think it's necessary to hear what Elspeth and her mother are going through.

I rested throughout the day, my eyes that is. They were getting blurry and I think resting helped unclog it, for after so long, sometimes my wording tends to get silly. I'm sure tomorrow when I look at what I wrote I'll be changing a bunch of it, but for now, it sounds great!

Soon people soon!

A Soul is lost. Never to Return Ever.

I wrote chapters 24 and 25. I'm finding it hard to see what I am typing, but my eyes are blurred with tears from typing Chapter 25. It's the saddest chapter ever. Gut-wrenching and if you don't care when you read it, I guess my writing isn't that good then. But how I did it is that I put myself in a place when I had lost someone. My security blanket so to speak. So, as I wrote this difficult chapter, I remembered how I felt when I lost someone. The pain. The anguish. The void that you find in the pit of your stomach, that doesn't go away. The nightmares weeks after. I put myself BACK into that nightmare of mine as I wrote Elspeth's nightmare. I won't say what, but just know, that it was real. The feeling. The emotion, because those were MY emotions I used.

I won't say anymore. I need to take a break from this. I will say this, I foresee, two more chapters and I am all done. Then its off to editing, going back to fix stupid mistakes I made. Making it sound perfect. Real to you, the reader. Then tweak it with added images and fancy fonts.

Good night!

WRITE!!!

I have been gone. Not writing like I should. My husband took the whole week off, so I've been going places with him. Yesterday, Sunday, we took our daughter to the Vintage 21 store. It has clothing, home decor, yard decor, stationary, etc. It has antiques and antiques that have been re-purposed, to Fairy Garden statuaries. I got a mini dragon. I call her Fiona.

Anyway, after that, I relaxed. Been having my headaches again and they leave me quite exhausted, but later that day, I didn't write a new chapter, I added to chapter 20. Tonight I will do chapter 21. Oh! I worked on a book cover for my good friend Denise. I have to re-do the main character on the cover. So, it being Monday now, I will do that today and tonight I'll write.

It feels like it's going to be a hot one, so I'm thinking it's best I should go out and do my walking or maybe bike ride before I get started on my artwork.

See, even this post is boring. Sorry, just not feeling it today.

Good News!

Ok, not finished with the book. That's not what the good news is about, what is, is that a writer friend of mine in my WriteOn Joliet writers group did an article on me and my upcoming book, Elspeth. I have to say that I was very touched by his words. The title of the blog is Writing and the Process.  Here is the link: Writing and The Process

The second good news is that my books can be purchased now at Prairie Fox Book Store in Ottawa, Illinois. I'm very excited about this and hope that all goes well. I have a fan base in Utica, Illinois and they always ask if I have my books in a nearby book store. I've had to tell them no, but now...I can say, "Yes, I do!"

The link to the book store is on the blog, on the right side.

As far as Elspeth is going, it is. I'm getting quite excited, for the end of writing the story is coming close to an end.

I can feel it, people!

Omens...Good or Bad?

Well, I'm writing chapter 19 and it's a doozy. Things are getting darker and darker for Elspeth and my muse is really doing a great job with this story. Even I can't believe what I'm coming up with!

My week has been . . . meh...not much in the mood to do much, though I did get my house cleaned up and that always makes me feel better about myself.  I do have to say that yesterday was not a good day for me as my Diabetes really exhausted me. I felt like I hit a brick wall, physically. I was so tired and weak. I tried to ignore it and got myself dressed and did some light shopping at Hobby Lobby, but my legs felt like jello and I thought immediately that my blood sugar was low. It was. 77 and going down. So, I chomped down two glucose tabs went home and made a PBJ sandwich and that didn't help much. Oh, my sugar went to a normal level, but I still felt weak, so I took a nap.

Later that evening, I still didn't feel 100% better, I started to write chapter 19, but today, after going over in my head how the chapter sounded, I didn't like it. So, tonight I re-wrote a part of it and I'm glad I did, because not the tension is better. You all are going to love this book when it's done.

Well, it's almost 11p.m. and I am tired. So, until tomorrow. Night!

Things Are Becoming ... Hard to Handle

Well, chapter 18 is coming along. I finished it last night and I must say, I am impressed with it. You see, Elspeth's mother has ill feelings about things back home. She senses trouble, which then is making Elspeth wanting to go home. Her mother knows how to calm any situation down by the use of crystals.

The transformation of such usage of crystals is amazing, as you will soon discover once the book is out.

But during this time of writing, I came down with strep throat. Yeah, I'm not at work (I work in a high school). It's summer! How does one get strep in summer?! So, instead of writing, I've been sleeping and sleeping more. The meds make me sleepy you see. I've got four more days to be on my antibiotics and so far, they are helping, but I have to tell you, I got strep throat three times in a period of six weeks. Six weeks! Three times!

Know what I hate most of the strep throat? It's how they have to swab the back of your throat to get the results. Yeah. I don't do well with that one at all. I have to literally sit on my hands for them to do it because I end up pulling their hand away.

Well, I have dinner to make, but I will write tonight and let you know more. I'm thinking at least two more chapters and I will be done. We shall see if my muse agrees with me or not.

See you!

Bram

Onward to chapter 17th. Elspeth and her mother are almost to their destination, but something has come up back home that makes Elspeth want to go home and forgo their travel.

She, now more than ever, will need the help of her familiar, Bram, the black crow. It will him that will help her from now on and only her, for he only listens to his witch that he is connected to.

Follow me, as I take my characters through some tough and even deathly events. Elspeth has grown up now, but she doesn't realize just how grown up she will become.

Trouble in traveling....and it's a wild one!

Short, but exciting post this one will be. I have loads to do this morning, so here it goes.

Elspeth and her mother are traveling to Hemsdale, Scotland. There, they are to meet up with another witch, Arabel MacKenna who will help Elspeth even more with her craft. Now, trouble ensues when they are met up with a wild boar and her litter. In the meantime, Mr. Horne, Elspeth's Da, stays at home. Safe . . . or one would think so...mhmmmm.

Trouble is Brewing for Elspeth

Chapter 15 is when things start getting scary. Elspeth and her mother go up further into the highlands to seek out an old woman to help Elspeth enhance her craft. The father stays at home, but I fear something will happen to him.

It is coming close to an end for this book. I can feel it. A couple exciting episodes are to follow before the end and I promise you, they will be great!

I woke again, with another headache and it got me quite down in the dumps, but I told myself, I am not going to let this get to me. I truly believe it's my new glasses. So, I'm going to the eye doctors tomorrow and tell them to fix this.

I feel somewhat fine now. It being almost 10:30pm. But I had to write. Had to. Tomorrow, I've got lots of errands to do in the morning, and I plan on filling my wading pool and soak up some sun while I let my feet dangling it's in coolness.

So, for now, I will say goodnight and hopefully, God willing, I will not have another headache.

Goodnight!

HEADACHES! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't been posting or writing much due to the fact that I've been having headaches for a week now, and I'm really quite tired of them. Tired of being in pain.

At first, I thought that maybe it was my new glasses. My prescription changed just a wee bit, but I've been having headaches. So, I stopped wearing them and I'm still having headaches. Then, I thought maybe it's been the weather. We've been having extremely high temps and humidity and from what I have gathered, that can cause migraines (which is what I'm getting). So, I've stayed inside, still not working. Then, I woke up this morning with a stuffy nose and my headache was between my eyes, so I went and bought Dristan? Dristin? Anyway, it REALLY cleared my nasal passages big time, still didn't help the headache. I ended up taking extra-strength Tylenol. That seems to help. Doesn't get rid of all of it, but at least I am able to do stuff around the house.

So, I did write a small bit last night on Chapter 15, but my head was bothering me so much, that I stopped. I am going to attempt to continue with that chapter and try to finish it. Wish me luck on that one.

Hopefully, tomorrow I will have a non-free headache day. Please, if any of you are reading this, pray for me.

Hope you all had a great 4th of July.

In the Swing of Things

I think I've finally fallen into a pattern with my writing and when the best time to do it...around 7pm. I can't do writing during the daytime, as I have said before because that's my time to get chores, errands and yard stuff done, not to mention . . . my time!

I will say this, writing is fun, especially now. Writing historical fiction is more work than what I thought it would be, but I wouldn't change my mind on doing it. I am finding that this is the best piece ever out of the seven books that I have already written.

I see the end of this first book coming, but it's hazy. Like in a fog. Not quite there. I don't want to rush it, otherwise, it'll sound rushed, but my deadline is coming around, and whenever I submit my manuscript in for review, that is when my work is the hardest.

Now, Createspace has given all our books over to KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and I've been hearing horrors stories about how difficult it is to get a book published with them. I'm starting to wig out here. Especially when I'm working with an author who I design book covers for, and she has had nothing but difficulties with KDP. From the font, I chose to the spine not being wide enough. It's a nightmare I tell ya!

Anyway, I've been also taking day trips. My husband and I decided not to take a long vacation. Just not in the mood. So, we've planned to do some day trips around Michigan and Wisconsin. Go to places we've already been to, but really love going. For example, St. Joseph Michigan. My all-time favorite place. The shops are quaint, cute and the restaurants are all good. The beach there is very clean and beautiful, but you have to walk a long way to get to it if you park in town.

So, I did write two more chapters, 14 and 15 and like I said before, things are getting tense for Elspeth and her family. Not sure how I want to do this, but, I'm sure my muse will help me along. Has never failed me yet.

Goodnight whoever you are!

Still Writing Strong

I'm still writing, don't worry about me, though during the day, I don't. During the day, I work in my yard and do house stuff.

Today, my puppy, Talia, pure-bred German Shepherd, had her spa day today and teeth brushed. It took 3 1/2 hours to get her beautiful. She looked tired too. Poor thing. I was nervous about taking her, because she is so very strong and we had city workers, working on our street, across from our house. Well, all she wanted to do was to go see them. I was having a hell of a time trying to keep her from pulling me, so back in the house, we went and I called my son to help me get her in the car.
He came and out the door, she ran! But ran around the car and back to my son. We got her in the car and getting her into the groomers was not a problem because there was no one around, same with picking her up. She was even fine when I got her home, no problems.

I did some other errands and tonight I will write chapter 14. Not sure what's to take place, but we shall see.

Tomorrow, I have a book signing to do at the Book -n- Bean Cafe' at the library. Hopefully, things will go well. I find though, that book signings at libraries don't do well. I've done several, but I love the Book -n- Bean and Tammy Duckworth who runs it. Great food and coffee.

So, if you are in or around Joliet, come by and see me tomorrow and grab a great cup of joe!

Writing Like a Madman!

OMG! OMG! OMG! I am in a writing frenzy! I wrote two chapters yesterday, and one today, before I go to my son's hockey game! I am on fire I tell you! I did so much today too before I even started to write. I cleaned my front gardens. Got rid of all the weeds, then I cleaned out the inside of the car, got it to 'shine' inside and then took it to the car wash and had it washed on the outside. Then, I made taco's for dinner and I wrote chapter 13. See what I mean!

I'm also thinking of having Elspeth a series or maybe a Trilogy, not sure. The first book, Elspeth, will be on her younger years, the next book after she escapes being burned to the stake and her life without her parents. I figured that I'll be able to publish the book faster and easier if I made it into a series of novellas. I had wanted it to be a big book, but with a deadline of October 1st. I wouldn't make it. My house would suffer terribly and I'd be unhappy and I don't think the book would be written well either. So, make it short and concise.

I'd like to continue with the conversation we are having here, but I have a hockey game to get ready for. So, till tomorrow, I will say goodnight..."Goodnight!"

A New Chapter has been born!

Yup, you heard right. I just finished Chapter 11 and things are heating up within Elspeth's world. She's finding out who she can and cannot trust. Seven pages of pure tension. Will I ever make it? I do believe it'll only get worse from here. Tough times are coming for Elspeth.

Speaking of tough, this summer weather is like living in Bremerton, Washington. RAIN! And when it's not raining its cloudy, hardly any sun and cool in the mornings. I've yet to go out on my pergola, sit with a nice iced coffee and do a little writing, but nooooooooo. So, after my husband leaves for work, I end up taking a nap till 9:45am.

I need warm weather, sunshine to energize me. To motivate me into writing, doing something! As it is, I did do some writing, while also doing some laundry. I was multi-tasking. By the afternoon, it did warm up to 70 degrees, and I went to the mall to see if I could find me a nice phone case. Nope. They only had them for IPhones.  Grrrr...

Anyway, I am back home from the mall, and am preparing to start chapter 12.  Tomorrow is supposed to be better than today, so maybe, just maybe I'll be able to do some writing outside.

We shall see. 

Music

https://youtu.be/9XTL-9ss31M

Music I'm listening to while finishing up Chapter 10.

Chapter 10

Well, my first 'official' thing I did for summer vacation was...not write. Well, I did in the evening, but I sat and finished watching season 3 of Outlander. I like it a lot, but what I'm seeing though and getting   (as they would have said it) "a wee bit tired of watchin Claire and Jamie getting into some trouble. Just when they get out one, in comes another. It's starting to be dafty. Ye ken!" That's how it was in Season 3. One thing right after another and I could use a bit of a reprieve from it. Need to see some normalcy ya know!

Action is fine. I get that, but not constant. It's too much all the time. That's why I haven't read the books because if the movie has this much drama, the books will too and I don't like it. Action is fine. Fighting is fine. Drama after drama, after drama...TOO MUCH.

Anyway, I did start on chapter 10. It was a bit hard getting into it. So, I only wrote five pages. I'm not done with it. Have loads more to write, but I'm not liking how it is going. It has SOME drama, not much, but I'm not sure just how much I want to get into it.

I also did a no, no. I wrote in Microsoft Word. Remember a few posts back where I had all the issues with it not letting me 'save as'? But I like MS, it has tools that Open Office doesn't or if it does I have no idea where to find the buggers. I don't have time to search for tools. I'm doing enough searching for information on the 18th century. I don't need to search in the 20th century for how to find tools in Open Office!

Well, its 9:14pm and maybe I'll see if I can finish chapter 10 after all. Good night and drop me a line. A comment. Anything! Would love to hear your thoughts.

Writing Saturday

Well, its official, I'm writing. During the day no less, which is totally out of my norm, but when you have a deadline, you make allowances.

So it being Saturday, I made coffee and breakfast, then my husband went over to our sons house to work. I, on the other hand, took a nap. I was tired so sue me! After about a half hour later, I decided to get some work done. Housework. Did that happen? No. Well, it did, after lunch, but it's still morning.

I had lunch with my husband, his brother and our two sons. It didn't last long, they were teasing me too much and I decided I had enough and said I'm going . . . and I did too.

I got home, did my kitchen, vacuumed the floor and then went to Walgreens to get my meds. I came home and did some more cleaning up and started to write chapter 9 of Elspeth.

It is now 6:51pm and I'm still writing, but I'm doing a lot of research on witches familiars and the purpose of them and what's the connection between its witch and itself.

In doing my writing, I'm also doing laundry. It really needs to be done. For two people, we generate A LOT of laundry.

Well, I got to get back to writing. The towels will be dried soon and I'll have to fold those right away.

Have a blessed Sunday tomorrow.

Senior Writer

That's right, senior writer. I am 63 and falling apart as the days, weeks, months and years go by. A task so simple set me in pain for a few weeks. Let me explain. I was sitting on the couch and I bent over to my left side to move a basket that was on the floor. PAIN! I pulled a muscle in the right side of my rib cage. Hurt like hell to breathe. So, I put a brace on. That made it worse. Then the pain radiated down to my butt, going further down my hamstrings to finally ending up at my feet. So, sitting was difficult because it pulled the muscles in my back.

After a week of that, the pain seemed to have disappeared, but now I am having huge issues with my left foot and the ligaments in the inner part of my foot. I have plantar fasciitis. I did everything. Used everything. Even wore my boot. Nothing worked. I have another boot, it's only to be worn when I go to bed. It stretches the hamstrings, but it's better, more comfortable than my big, heavy boot.

So, today being my last day of school, I wore it to school. All day. As soon as I got home, took it off, it has been fine. Go figure!

Tomorrow is officially summer vacation for me. I WILL be writing every day to get this book done.  So, as you can see, being a writer has its walls, pitfalls, and pain. Elspeth will be done by October....just tell my body to behave its self and things will go as planned.

Didn't Write Today

Yup, you heard me. I didn't write. I woke up this morning with a headache and I thought it would go away on its own after I had coffee. I checked my blood sugar and found out why. My blood sugar was below 70. It didn't say how low it got, but I had a nice, little, red line below my target zone from 12am to 6a. That was a bit scary to see.

Then, I went to the cemetery to plant flowers on my parents grave and afterward, when I got home, went and bought fake succulents for my fairy garden. I still had my headache and it had become worse and my vision was feeling fuzzy. So, I checked my blood sugar...65 and going down. So, I had some orange juice and glucose tabs, 2. Then, I took meds for my headache.

Needless to say, it is almost 10pm, I did no writing. I actually feel like death warmed over. I'm completely exhausted. Stupid diabetes. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better and I will be able to write.

Have a great weekend! 

RESEARCH!

I thought I would do something different with my post and add a Scottish burr to my post, so you can see how it'll be in the book. Sort of, "a taste", a "sampling". So, here it goes;

Just when ye think ye've done enough research...think again. I thought I knew all I had to about Scotland, then when writing about Elspeth and the upcoming Yule Sabbat, I looked in the Green Witch Grimoire (Book of Shadows), what they did for this pagan event, it's pretty much what we do for Christmas. They decorate like we do, tree and all. The only thing different is that there is a ritual that they do and their Christmas carols or Yule carols are the same, but the wording is a "wee bit different."

Anyway, the decorations listed were Holly. Now, Dornoch, Scotland is in the Highlands. Aye, there are Pine trees, and they have deciduous trees (leaf barring), but I wasna sure if Holly grew there. So, here I go again, researching. I ken that if I didna, it would be questioned. So, I looked and looked and looked. Finally, I found it. It did. Good! Elspeth's house can be decorated with it.

By the by, ken means know.  For example, "I dinna ken." "I do not know." Now, I dinna have the burr to the point where ye dinna ken what I'm saying, because their language can be a wee bit difficult and my readers are young adults. So, I pretty much kept it simple, but enough to make it interesting.

Watching Outlander has helped me a lot, as far as, the geography and what grows there, to the housing and what not. I also read the books too. That has helped with the dialect. Like what ye are seeing now.

What ye think? Ye like it or no?

Anyway, I've got to get writing chapter 8 and the Yule Sabbat. I hope ye are enjoying my posts and are getting somewhat of a glimpse as to how it is to be a writer, writing a book.

Till tomorrow! 

Despite all odds I completed chapter 7

Trying to write a chapter with a pulled back is challenging at best. I pulled it this last night, bad enough to where I had to have my hubby help me put my socks on.

So, going to work, wasn't too bad. I managed to make it through the day. Even went out to dinner before coming home to write.

Chapter 7 is a short one, 5 pages long, but it's a funny one at that. Elspeth is hating winter, her mother is scrubbing the floor and working up a sweat, while Elspeth is complaining about winter. She is told to get back to her studies and finds that flowers and their magical powers are boring until she comes across a section where, more or less, you have to treat the flower as though it has feelings. This she finds absolutely hysterical, her mother tries to tell her that's it's not silly, that it's very true.

Toward the end of the chapter, Elspeth begins to see the importance of it. Finds it most interesting in fact. Her mother tells her that it's not so boring after all.

So, now it is 10:56pm I am going to call it a day. As for tomorrow, Chapter 8! Till then, adieu.

I did it again!

You'd think I would have learned by now, but nope. I am a gluten for punishment. Yup. I typed chapter 6 in Microsoft word and it would not 'save as'. I told my husband...again...and he gave me the what for? Did I not listen the last time? I know. I know. I'm my own worst enemy. Thank God it saved for I checked it in the folder on my desktop.

See, a writer's time is fought with technology that doesn't want to work properly. I sometimes wonder if using a regular typewriter and typing it all out...no, wouldn't work, because I self-publish and I would have to eventually have to type it out on the computer to submit it on KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing). It would just be more work. I don't want more work, I barely have enough time as it is!

Anyway, I just pulled my back out of whack so, I have to end this post. I do hope you all are enjoying my posts and have spread the word about this blog. I sometimes feel like I'm just talking to a blank wall or a void as it were.

Good night!

Music for Elspeth.

I just thought I would share the music I use when I am writing Elspeth. It's quite relaxing and sets the mood of the story perfectly. So, enjoy!

Elspeth music

RAIN...No Rhubarb Fest for this author!

I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired of all this rain. It reminds me of when I lived in Bremerton, Washington and I only lasted 5 months there. I had to go home. A home where you see, feel and live in the sunshine!

I did no writing yesterday because I wanted to be out in the sun. My sanctuary (backyard) needed fixing up. I still had all my yard decor in boxes and I had to figure out where to place all my shepherd hooks for all the hanging plants I bought.

So, I mowed the front and backyard. Had to take a break because I tend to overheat in warm weather, so my face looked like a lobster. On my break and went and bought stuff for dinner. Came back and put in all the yard decor where I saw fit. By then the sky began to look darker by the minute. I had also taken my headache medicine then too. This messed up weather is creating havoc with my headaches. 

Once the storm took hold, I didn't do any writing. I made dinner and took a nap. Meds make me extremely sleepy.

Today (Sunday), another storm is on the way. We were supposed to participate in the Rhubarb Fest in Kankakee, but with the weather being what it is and my husband's woodwork, along with my books, would not be conducive to the stormy weather. So, we opted out. Lost our fee, but I'd rather that then soggy books.

I remember going to Printer's Row in Chicago and a storm started to brew. Chicago lived up to its name, Windy City. The wind kicked in, garbage cans started flying, as did tents. Pamphlets, and whatever other paper went up in the air. It was scary! Good thing there were buildings to go into then. In Kankakee, the Rhubarb Fest is outdoors.  See my point.

I have yet again, another headache, but what I didn't get done house wise yesterday, I will do now. Hopefully, writing will take place tonight.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Started Chapter 6

Storms! Hail! And wind!

That was my day and now my night. I had a writing group meeting tonight, but I didn't go, as much as I wanted to, I didn't. Instead, I caught up on my laundry (which needed much catching up on) and wrote. Writer's multi-tasking. See what I mean by not having time just for writing?

Anyway, hubby was at a cruise night at Ace Drive-in with his brothers. I didn't want to go, for reasons I just stated. So, I had a nice, relaxing evening of catching up on my two ( one of them not being my favorite), but two important things.

Tomorrow is Friday, so that's a plus right there and Sunday my husband and I are participating in a craft show, but it's supposed to storm. It's all outside. I'm praying that, that will change, but I have a feeling it won't, so wish us luck. I made sure though, that I had enough books to sell.

It's 10:47p.m. and I'm tired, so I think I will make this a short post tonight. I will let you all know how Sunday went and post pictures.

So, for now...good night.

Big Scare!

Writers go through many emotions, upheavals, and whatnot, but we manage to come out of them alive. Today was my worst day. Let me explain...

Work, my full-time job was good. No complaints whatsoever, but...when I got home, I made dinner, steak, corn on the cob, then did my dishes, got my hair cut and came home to work on my book.
Now, Microsoft word has been the only thing I've ever used, but since we got updated to 2013 and Vista 10, I hate it. Never in my entire writing career have I ever had issues with saving a document.

Click on 'save as' and you're good to go right? Wrong.

Last night I went to 'save as' and it wouldn't let me, nor would it let me copy and paste it onto a new document. Now, I've had this issue before. Many times and it's frustrating as all get out. I don't do anything different. So, I noticed at the top of my word doc it said 'compatibility mode' so I thought maybe that was the reason for the issues. Means its an old version. Well, it didn't help. Still had the same issues.

So, I thought I would just 'save' like I did last night. Wouldn't even let me do that. So, how was I suppose to close it? So, I clicked on the 'Don't Save' which told me it would revert back to the old document...it disappeared! It wasn't even on the recent list in MS word! Panic ensued.

I ran to the basement where my hubby was working and told him. He hates it when he can't find things on computers and I tried to relay my actions as best as I could so that he could possibly find it. In the meantime, I prayed to St. Anthony to help. You know what? HE DID!  My husband and St. Anthony, together, found my document that I had been working on tonight and saved it in a new file on the desktop and I opened it in Open Office. I also saved it to my thumb drive as well.

Tip: Save often, save on a thumb drive. Have backups!

Life as a writer is never dull. Truly.

A Successful Night of Writing!

Let me tell you, last night was great! Chapter 5 is something else. Funny in all the right places.
I'll explain; winter has started and Elspeth's mother has arthritic hands, so it's hard for her do things. Elspeth, being the good daughter that she is, help out as best as she can.

In this chapter, her mother takes a break from darning and Elspeth is working on her Grimoire. She ends of showing her mother what she has done and impresses her. As she continues to work, her mother remembers something she forgot to teach Elspeth on, which is Magikal Pointers. How to go about asking for magikal tools and other things she may need. Elspeth, of course, is upset, because one of the things her mother tells her is that if she takes from nature, she must give back. Well,  she's gone out into the woods many times and has gotten stuff for her mother. Reassuring her daughter, she tells her that she only learned that she was a witch, so not to worry.

The conversation of magikal pointers goes on until her mother says something quite strange. Something about how to act with a dragon and a unicorn. Elspeth thought her mother was acting a wee bit numptie, but in actuality, she was quite serious. Elspeth doesn't know quite what to think.

The story is becoming quite interesting, wouldn't you agree? So, I am off to do my kitchen, then chapter 6. Life is good. 

Chapter 4 of Elspeth

This is going slow. Writing-wise that is. Writing a historical fiction book is not all that easy as I thought. For example; My story takes place in Scotland, ok, what I know of Scotland and its country is sparse, but enough to get by right? Wrong.

I had to make sure that the trees I had written about were actually grown there, that the floors of Elspeth's house, wooden, actually were around in the 18th century (they were). Elspeth's family have sheep. How many sheep? I said a dozen or so. Is that enough? One member of our writing group asks. Apparently, they would have a slew of sheep, not a few dozen. Or would they have had glass windows then, or the pantry they did have, made it into a room for Elspeth when she was little, so where did the food that was in the pantry go?

During this whole time, I am listening, trying not to lose it and saying, in my defense, "Does it really matter? This book is for young adults. They're not going to question stuff like that, they just want to read! Read a good story! Who cares if the glass windows should be there or not. Heck, most young readers could care less about our history, little lone something in the 18th century.

To put things in perspective, even if I didn't 'research' everything, I just knew and what I did know and write about was correct. TEN POINTS for me! I looked up everything they questioned and I was spot-on. I get what the meeting is for. I really do, but it was stressing me out big time.

Anyway, chapter 4 is the start of Mabon, the Autumn Equinox. As any practicing witch can tell you, the equinox is a powerful time energetically; the start of autumn, specifically, marks the point at which the light begins to wane. For pagans, equinoxes are particularly significant events, and the autumnal equinox—also referred to as Mabon by neo-Pagans—is somewhat equivalent to Thanksgiving. This is an important time to give thanks to Mother Goddess and the earth for her gifts. Those who practice Mabon see it as a time of balance between the opposing forces of light and dark, life and death: As you celebrate the harvest you've reaped, you simultaneously recognize that the soil is dying, that the nights will start to become longer, and that the earth is slowly going into hibernation.

So, until tomorrow, I will say to all those or those I wish and hope are reading this, a Happy Mother's Day.

First Day Without a Headache

Headaches are a part of a writers life. Mine is special. My headaches are not due to the writing, they are due to medicine and the effects it has on me.

For a whole week, I have not been able to write, which kills me because I have 143 days left to complete this novel of mine and lord knows it's going to be tricky. Back in the day of women writer's, so few were published only because they had so many other things to contend with. The house, children, cooking, cleaning, and husbands. They had no room of their own to write out their dreams. What room did they have to call their own? Do you know? Nothing. You'd say the kitchen, but everyone eats in the kitchen, dining room... the same thing, the bedroom she shares with her husband, the living room everyone shares. The husband though, he has his study, or nowadays, workshop or some younger men have what is called Man Caves. How Neanderthal can one get?

Even now, in 2019, women still don't have time to just write. I can attest to that. As soon as I sit down, the dog wants out, food or something. My husband will want me to see something on the tv, which most of the time I'm glad he did. I mean, I'm up and down...constantly!

Another thing about writing is that I feel guilty when I sit at my computer and start to write when my house is screaming to clean it up! I do feel better if I can do all my wifey things during the day and spend my nights' writing. I do my best writing at night anyway.

So, before I go, I will say one thing...I don't have a headache. For the first time in a week.  Why? I stopped my medication. Now, I can understand what my mother went through, though she had it worse than me. It's a bitch.

I will send this post out into the void and hopefully, someone out there will see what a clever idea this is and will pay my blog a visit and follow me and my journey.

For now, though, I will say, goodnight.

Back In The Saddle Again

From what I can see, I have no followers, so my telling you that I've been gone from sometimes would be pointless. Nevertheless, I am bound and determined to get followers, those who have read my books, and those who have not.

I have been extremely busy with other authors and foregoing my needs. Yes, I am the type who can't say no, but I will have to if I want my latest novel, Elspeth to get published before October 1st.
Thank goodness, my full-time job is ending for summer vacation (I work in a High School), so that will give me loads of time to write!)

Elspeth, my latest book, is a Historical Fiction. Takes place in Dornoch, Scotland and its about the last witch to die in Scotland, Janet Horne. Now, that may not be her real name, for back then, Janet was a generic name for witches or if unknown. This particular witch's name was not known, thus for the generic form.

I am using what information I do know of this person and her daughter, whose name is not known as well and am adding to it, which is the fictional part. It's all very exciting and I'm using an actual witch's Grimoire to help add in the storyline.

So, I promise you all or those of you who decide to find me and follow me in my conquest of finishing a great novel, that I will be posting every day or close to that.

For now, I will say, "I dinna ken, when I will be back to write ye all another post, but I promise I will."