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.