On Being Burned Out, Frustrated, and Grateful...An Open Discussion About My Career

While I'm possibly talking to myself with this post as my blog seems to have lost followers in my absence, I thought I'd put it out there regardless. Because a writer's gotta write, right? And I consider it a form of therapy to openly talk to my fans about where I'm at in my career.

Contrary to popular belief or the darkest thoughts of my psyche, I have not quit writing. After several months of putting my craft to work in other avenues in which I usually worked seven days a week and sometimes up to 12 hours a day, I took the months of September and October "off" to help my husband farm. Turns out it was a much needed mental break from writing.  I didn't realize I was completely burned out until I stepped away from it all.

Although some people may think writing is easy and a non-stop fun-fest, it can take a toll on a person - especially when self-employed with ridiculously long days because you're not reporting to an 8-5 job and can type away in the comfort of you home until you're unable to keep your eyes open. And then there's the marketing aspect of being an indie author. Don't even get me started on the business side of my dream career, because I'm clearly not cut out for that kind of thing. I'm unorganized and unfocused, unable to stick to a plan. And the experts say as a writer you have to have a presence on social media. Although it has become an important tool for reaching fans, it's also a place where you learn about the success of others and begin to question yourself and your work.

*Cue depression*

I've been open about dealing with depression in the past and I'm not about to shy away from it now. Around the time I was preparing to help with harvest, I was in a tunnel so long and so dark that it seemed I would never find my way back out. I quit the business side of social media, even unfollowing my dearest of writer friends because it was too painful to see others flourishing when I was floundering. Thankfully I've never been suicidal, but there was a time when everything seemed pretty bleak and I would cry at the drop of a hat. Like many so people battling inner demons, I was able to smile and put on a brave face while trudging through the murkiest of waters. Not many people in my life knew about my struggle.

For the first time in five years, I didn't participate in NaNoWriMo (an annual (November) novel writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world). Instead I used this "time off" to evaluate my career. I say "time off" as I was sometimes spending 10 hours per day in the tractor and that can be way more exhausting than one would think. Now that I was able to take a step back and put things into perspective, I'm so incredibly grateful.

I'm sure everything I said above sounds incredibly whiny, especially coming from someone who works from home and doesn't have to meet the demands of a surly boss or punch a clock. Though it's dangerous when you're able to set your own hours in a job you love because there's no one to tell you it's time for a break, it's also incredibly convenient. I'm amazed my friends with jobs can keep up with their teenager's activities and I can't fathom how working farm wives can meet the demands of their husbands. Being married to someone who also sets their own hours gives us the kind of freedom together that most people dream about (aside from the grueling demands of planting and harvest seasons, of course). My days of spending weeks building up the courage to ask for accrued time off are long gone. And I can virtually write from anywhere so long as I have access to power, it's quiet, and there aren't people moving around me (demanding, I know, but I have crazy ADD). In reality, it's the ideal job.

Having gone from a well-paying job to being self-employed almost four years ago was at first a serious blow to my ego. I don't have the kind of salary that a person could live off, but I am making some money. The fact that I have actual fans who buy my books and want to read more really says something. I've wanted to be a writer since I was eight years old. I'm not only proud of myself for making my dream a reality, but incredibly thankful beyond words for those who have an interest in my work. I wouldn't be where I am today without them.

It has never been my goal to become famous. I know I won't ever be on the same playing field with the likes of Stephen King or J. K. Rowling as I'm lightyears away from their level of prose. Honestly, I wouldn't want that kind of public recognition anyway. I'm uncomfortable the way it is when a stranger asks me in public about my next book and therefore know I would totally suck if put in a spotlight of any significance. I simply want people to get excited about my books because the endless stories going through my head won't stay silent. I want fans to fall in love with my heroes and get lost in the worlds I create. And hopefully one day my ultimate dream of having a book made into a movie will be realized. *fingers crossed*

Last night I had a breakthrough and, for the first time in months, wrote for several hours straight. So here I am, back in the saddle of sorts, ready to focus on writing and decide what project I want to do next. Hopefully in 2016 I'll be releasing the long awaited sequel to Shymers and the next two books in the Paranormal Keepers series as well as a few other projects, but I still have to work it all out and decide my next moves. Because that's what you have to do as an indie author - make all the decisions on your own. It's stressful as all hell, but I'm still thrilled that I have the opportunity to spend my life doing what I love. If you've reading this and you've read even one of my books, I thank you from the very bottom of my heart. It's people like you who have helped to make my life complete!

I'm an Award Winning Author!

Agh, where does time go? While I'm sorry I've been so neglectful of this blog, I promise you it's because I've been insanely busy with writing and other projects! Regardless, it was time to break the silence with some pretty big news. People who know me will probably agree I'm pretty modest for the most part, but this is one of those times in which I want to shout my news from the rooftop: I'm an award winning author!

Last week, the day after approving the gorgeous new cover for Mind Static, I received an email from the president of Indie BRAG informing me that the same book received a B.R.A.G. Medallion! Honestly, I wasn't sure what it was at first, either, until I went to their website and found this explanation:

BRAGMedallion.com is owned and operated by indieBRAG, LLC, a privately held organization that has brought together a large group of readers, both individuals and members of book clubs, located throughout the United States and in ten other countries around the globe. The word "indie" refers to self or independently published books, while B.R.A.G. is an acronym for Book Readers Appreciation Group.

All ebooks brought to the attention of indieBRAG, LLC are subjected to a rigorous selection process. This entails an initial screening to ensure that the author's work meets certain minimum standards of quality and content. If it passes this preliminary assessment, it is then read by members drawn from our global reader group. They judge the merits of the book based on a comprehensive list of criteria, including;

Plot

Writing Style

Characters

Copy editing

Dialogue

One final factor our readers use to judge a book is whether or not they would recommend it to their best friend.

On average, 50% of the books submitted to us fail to pass the initial screen and another 40% are subsequently rejected by our readers. Thus, only 10% of the books we consider are awarded our B.R.A.G. Medallion and are presented on our website. Conversely, we do not make public the titles of any books that were not selected to receive a Medallion, or the names of their authors.

Needless to say, I was touched and honored that my work fit this criteria and made it into the final 10%! I'm probably just as excited to reveal the gorgeous new cover for Mind Static, created by the amazing Najla Qambers (see teaser, left). In the past I've been proud to say I designed my own covers and took all the pictures of models used, however, the market is highly competitive, and I really don't have as much time or as many resources as I would like. Accordingly, I've hired this extremely talented designer to take over the duties. She's the genius behind the beautiful Paranormal Keepers cover. Bloggers, sign up for the reveal and keep an eye out for the upcoming blitz of through Xpressobooktours.

If you haven't yet heard the news, I'm writing contemporary new adult romance under the pen name Jennifer Ann, and will be releasing my debut novel Adam's List on June 13th! I'm really excited about this project as it was just as much fun to write as the paranormal genre. If you're a blogger interested in the reveal (the giveaway includes a Victoria's Secret gift card, New York necklace, and signed paperback copy of Adam's List), be sure to sign up HERE.  **Please note anything written under this pen name contains adult content, and therefore is intended for readers 18+ only.** Get all the latest on my new adult romance projects through my other website, Facebook, or Twitter.

A Reflection of Thanks

I'll forever think of November as days filled with an insane amount of writing, thanks to NaNoWriMo. Like thousands of other writers, I've been hunkering down all month long, stealing time that wasn't really there just to fit in 50,000 words on my new work in progress. Yesterday I finally hit that golden mark, in effect "winning" the personal challenge I had set for myself. Sadly enough, there wasn't any confetti, or any monetary reward per say (I did purchase a new coat in celebration, and had my own personal "Elf" moment), but there was a grand feeling of satisfaction that comes with the creation of a story and achieving a challenging goal.

The most gratifying thing I can walk away with from this experience is that I reached 60,000 on my newest book Paranormal Keepers, and can see the first draft being finished up by the end of December. The bad news is that it seems I've unleashed my inner writing demon and don't know how to put it back in its cage. I've caught myself structuring sentences before I say them out loud in regular conversation. If I don't get at least 1,000 words in a day, I become irritated with everyone and everything. Last night I had three consecutive dreams that were separate stories I was writing as they progressed (one very bazaar one even involving John Green). Sometimes writing is more like a relentless addiction than a job.

Still, I'm glad this was a successful month, and I'm thankful that my creativity continues to flow plentiful. If it didn't, I know I would lose my mind with all of these ideas trying to claw their way out. I'm also extremely thankful for all of you who have supported me by taking the time to read my books, write reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, tweet and blog and Facebook how much you enjoyed them, and continue to buy each of my new releases! You'll never know just how much I appreciate all you do! I wish I could give each and every one of you a tackling hug.

To all my US peeps, I wish you a very happy and safe Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Knock yourself out with turkey, football and good times.

My Crazy November

Ah, it's that time of year when we get to break out warm boots, sweaters and jeans, pumpkin anything and everything, watch as the leaves turn breathtaking colors, and celebrate the spooky awesomeness of Halloween (I especially can't wait for Halloween this year as I'm helping my 13-year-old throw her first big party this coming weekend).

But there's one event that's overshadowing my excitement for fall right now: NaNoWriMo.

For those of you who haven't heard of this, and are wondering what language that was, let me break it down for you. NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It's a nationwide event that was created to entice writer's to challenge themselves to write 50,000 in the month of November. There's no prize or reward, other than the satisfaction that you can pump that many words out in that short of a time period. The first time I participated in NaNoWriMo, I finished my first full-length novel in over a decade, and actually published it a few months later. It's a great way for writers to break past all their fears, and train themselves to write faithfully. Anyone can sign up on their website, and it's free.

Originally I wasn't going to take the challenge this year as my personal life has been pretty crazy with busy children and the craziest harvest season I've seen in 20 years, but I've been running across giant instances of writer's block, and decided this is probably what I need to break through them, and get back on track. My goal in NaNoWriMo will be to complete the new adult romance novel I started last week. Still, I think I'll be lucky if I can complete the targeted number of words.

To any of my fellow authors also taking the leap with me this month, best of luck to you, and let's connect (my username: "jnau"). For those of you who aren't, please excuse my spotty absences and neglected blog posts. Hopefully by December I'll still be sane enough for things to go back to "normal".

Cover Reveal: Waves of Love by Danielle Sibarium

My friend Danielle Sibarium does an excellent job of writing YA romance, so when she asked if I would help reveal the cover for the third installment in her paranormal trilogy, I jumped at the opportunity. And I was pleasantly surprised to see a guy with muscular arms featured (how can you not appreciate a man with well-built biceps?).

In celebration of her new release, Danielle is giving away three free copies, so be sure to enter below!

Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, when he did Tyler stepped in to pick up the pieces.

As she’s ready to take the next step with Tyler, Jenna finds herself face to face with Reece. Lies and secrets are discovered from the two boys she trusted the most. And now it’s more than just her heart on the line, it’s her life as well. 

Torn between two amazing guys Jenna’s certain of only one thing, this is the most important decision of her life. One almost destroyed her. The other brought her back to life. The time has come to choose. Can Jenna move forward with Tyler or will she be stuck in the past with Reece?

Become a fan of the Waves of Love Heart Waves Facebook page for teasers of this heartwarming story, coming October 31, 2013.

Ways to follow Danielle Sibarium:

Website

Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Twitter

Before I published my first book in April 2012, I decided to take the plunge and join Twitter. I seriously had no idea how it worked, and found the hashtag thing rather strange. Fast forward to 16k tweets later, and I'm definitely considered an addict. While there are times I know I spend way too much perusing what's known to be The Drainer of All Time, there are so many benefits to being active in this social media phenomenon.

Reason #5: World news! Okay, this is probably not something to brag about, but I don't watch news anymore, and I steer clear of the newspapers, so I get most of my news through Twitter and Facebook. There's something satisfying about talking to other people around the world when tragedy strikes, as if we can find comfort in knowing there are others experiencing the same kind of reaction.

Reason #4: Human interaction! Let me explain—I went from an extremely social job in which I helped (usually angry) people all day long to sitting in my little writing den out on our farm. My daily communication with people while my family is gone for the day becomes limited to whomever I chat with online, or the friends I text. There are days this is the small string that holds my sanity together.

Reason #3: The fandom! Its no secret I'm crazy about shows like The Walking Dead, and I love that I can rehash each episodes with other fans from around the world. I love that I can connect with others who are into the same musicians, and carry passions for the same books and authors. It's like being a member of several fan clubs without having to pay any dues.

Reason #2: The celebrities! Getting followed by Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead) made me scream so loud my husband thought someone had died, and shamelessly, having my tweet read by Chris Hardwick (host of Talking Dead, show that reviews episodes of The Walking Dead) on live TV was like winning a Grammy. I save each and every tweet I receive directly from a celebrity because it feels just as satisfying as an autograph. Being a fangirl of amazing authors, these are just a few of the tweets I've received that just about sent me over the edge:

@naumannbooks thank you so much! And darn, I would have loved to meet you! Next time I hope :-)
— Kendare Blake (@KendareBlake) September 27, 2013

@naumannbooks Check my profile, girl. Check that check!
— Isaac Marion (@isaacinspace) September 27, 2013

#1: The friendships! I've made so many friends through Twitter—some started out as fans of my writing and became my friends, some I've started blogs and businesses with, some have become my beta readers and critique partners, some I've spent hours virtually chatting with while partaking in adult beverages, others I have met in person or have plans to meet in the near future. It blows my mind to think how ten years ago, meeting strangers from across the country (or even the world) online was inconceivable.

Maybe this is just me trying to justify to myself why I spend so much time on social networks, or maybe it's just proving what a pathetic life I have. Either way, I don't really care. Twitter has been life-changing, and extremely resourceful. I plan to tweet until someone physically removes my phone from my hands.

Supernatural Author

Fall is the busiest time of the year for my family, so I apologize for the lack of posts! Between football, volleyball, dance, tae kwon do, confirmation, harvest, homecoming, and a million other things I won't bore you with, I've been crazy busy working on getting the sequel to The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life out. The cover is ALMOST officially ready to be released (stay tuned!), first draft is off to the editor, and the trailer is done. As soon as winter arrives, I'll be ready to take a day or two off. And by that I mean a girls' trip to New York City in which I'm sure we'll walk a few hundred miles and get very little sleep. Did I mention I have ADD and seriously don't know how to sit still?

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to get through the Supernatural series with my daily workouts (sometimes seeing Sam shirtless is all the motivation a girl needs). Yesterday I watched episode 18 of season 4 (how many freaking episodes can they pack into a season???) in which the Winchester brothers meet an author who just happens to be chronicling their lives, word for word. I especially enjoyed this one as the poor author was freaked out, thinking everything he was writing was coming to life. At one point he stated something like, "I'm like a god. A really sick one." Okay so that wasn't an exact quote, but you get the idea.

It was pretty amusing to consider the possibility as an author, then it suddenly started to freak me out a little. If my books were to come to life, I would also be considered a bit sick, sadistic even. I would be responsible for hundreds of deaths! Then I remembered it's fiction, and told myself to chillax. Still, there were some amusing stereotypes of authors involved (guy in his robe, drinking all day long), and even a slam to M. Night Shyamalan that irritated me a bit as I happen to be a big fan. But this was probably my favorite episode to date, mostly because it hit home. If you're into anything paranormal and haven't watched Supernatural, I suggest you jump on Netflix and give it a try. If nothing else, Sam and Dean are certainly easy on the eyes.

Looking forward to a month filled with horror movie marathons, Halloween parties and best of all, NEW EPISODES OF THE WALKING DEAD!

Dexter Finale...*sigh*

CAUTION: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD! 

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE FINAL EPISODE OF DEXTER, TURN YOUR HEAD NOW, AND GET OFF THE COMPUTER! YOU'RE BOUND TO RUN INTO OTHER SPOILERS SOMEWHERE ONLINE!

I began watching Dexter from the very first episode. I mean c'mon—the premise of a serial killer that you're actually rooting for...are you kidding me? I knew it would be original, and the writing soon proved to be top-notch.

 

For weeks I've been dreading the end of Dexter almost as much as Breaking Bad. As I watched the very last episode, just seeing the opening made me sad when I realized I would it again followed by a brand new story. Unfortunately, it was rather anti-climatic for the most part. Hannah is confronted by Elway, and we think it's over, but she pulls a needle out of Dexter's "emergency" kit, and slips away. Saxton and Dexter run into each other in the hospital, but instead of a big fight scene, the detectives arrest him. It was a string of "huh" moments that didn't do much for me.

Then THE ENDING came, and Deb's surgery had complications. I knew Dexter would come back to put her out of her misery, but the way he just scooped her up and wheeled her outside, then carried her into his boat? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I realize they were in the middle of an evacuation because of the storm, but c'mon. Not only was I pissed that Deb died, but this scene was so far fetched I actually rolled my eyes. The only saving factor was seeing her float down in the water like some kind of angel. I also foresaw Dexter faking his death to save those he loves from his "curse". But how in the hell would someone swim away from a hurricane? I mean really. As someone on Twitter stated, with swimming skills like that, he would put Phelps to shame.

At first I was numb when they faded out from Harrison and Hannah going for ice cream, and figured that was the end. Then they cut into one of the dumbest endings of all time: Dexter becomes a lumberjack, sporting an out-of-place beard that looks like pasted-on pubes. In the end I was just livid. This great series ended by killing off one of our beloved characters, splitting up the two people we've been dying to see have a happily ever after, and making a child essentially an orphan with a lady, who by the way is also a serial killer like his father. What exactly did he accomplish by having Hannah raise Harrison?

I've been saying this ever since Sunday, and I'll say it again: it feels like the writers of the show gave their fans the middle finger. Just to make it clear, I don't blame the actors. They delivered the parts they were given with the talent and skill they've had since the very beginning of the series. But after all those years of dedication we've given the show, it would've been nice to see Deb and Dexter find some kind of happily ever after that we can actually live with.

Adventures in Farming

This post is going to go a bit off the usual path, but not far. At times I think farming life is so odd that it very well could be considered something paranormal.

When I tell people I'm a farmer's wife, I often get a bug-eyed stare in return, or a round of laughter. It doesn't offend me by any means as most days I find it rather amusing myself. Even though I was raised in a small farming community (but lived in the heart of town), both sets of my grandparents were farmers when I was little, and I've been with the same farmer for over twenty years, the actual act of farming is still pretty much foreign to me. And I guess you could say I'm a girly girl. YES spiders make me scream and jump a mile, YES I hate having dirt under my fingernails, YES I hate being covered in sweat unless I'm working out, and YES I'd rather be shopping than doing any outdoor activities. And this farm girl prefers hard rock and rap over country western any day. But I know how to drive a tractor, and I own a pair of expensive work boots, so I'm slowly adapting.

For many years I kept my own full-time desk job while trying to juggle four children, so the farming was for my husband to worry about. Now that I work at home doing writing, photography, book cover design, and just about any other odd job I can get my hands on while trying to get the two kids still at home to their activities, my husband has been asking me to help more around the farm. Today's adventure involved cleaning out corn bins. During a heat advisory.

As I walk you through this, keep in mind that I have a healthy level of claustrophobia.

First I had to put on this annoying mask to keep out harmful corn dust that can do a real number on your lungs if you don't (this is coming from the same person who has panic attacks when wearing a snorkeling mask). It basically feels like sticking a heavy, damp blanket on your face. Not only does it make breathing normally a difficult task, but it produces buckets of sweat. I kept thinking if I didn't get to breathe in fresh air soon, I was going to pass out, or drown in my own fluids. I even wondered if my will is up to date.
Once the cotton Vader mask was in place, it was time to get inside the bin. To do so you have to enter through a very small opening that would make Malibu Barbie squeamish (middle of the three spaces on the left). While I'm considered "average" for my height and size, I must've stared at this hole for a good minute before I convinced myself that I'd fit. Once I made it in, my work boots immediately filled with corn. I soon learned that not stopping to empty them every time this happens is the equivalent of stepping on Legos barefoot.


The main objective in cleaning out a bin is to keep pushing the auger into the corn, keeping in mind that it spins fast enough to rip off your arm, foot, or any other appendage you would accidentally touch it with. You do not want to get a pair of jeans caught in that baby. I almost had a heart attack when the broom slipped from my hands and nearly dropped into the spinning metal disk of death.

Of course the auger doesn't pick up every grain, so you have to constantly shovel and sweep the stuff that's left behind while remembering not to touch the side of the bin as it feels as hot as a blazing fire from the intense sun beating on it from the outside. Plus I'm watching the mound of corn three times of height of me as it tumbles down the giant golden hill, wondering if it all kept coming if I would eventually suffocate to death. My husband assured me this wouldn't happen, and proceeded to tell me our 11-year-old son was in there with him the other day, climbing the ladder on the side and jumping into the pile.

What.

In the end, I walked away from today's adventure with two thoughts: (1) I'm way more excited about my career as a writer than I am a farmer's wife, and (2) in today's technology where tractors and combines are able to drive themselves, why in the hell haven't they invented a better way to empty out grain bins (i.e. one that crushes itself like a pop can until every last kernel is gone)?

My Next Project

Happy Friday, everyone!

I have a confession to make—I'm dragging my feet on my next project. Technically, I have five in the works. I've mentioned before it's a horrible habit for writers to take on as it's the best way to get nothing done fast. I'm pretty sure this is a form of self-sabotage. I could blame it on the transition between summer—probably my slowest writing season of the year—and the madness of fall (kids back in school and sports, farmer husband preparing for his busiest season of the year), but I know that's just an excuse to hide behind. The real reason? I'm just a big chicken. I'm indecisive. I'm terrified of sequels. I'm scared of rejection. Take your pick.

I know I need to start pumping out sequels, especially to Shymers and The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life as I really left those poor characters hanging. When I first started writing, I was a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. I wrote stories with no ending in mind, and no general outline to follow. This made for a lot of work in subsequent drafts (bless my editors' hearts), but it felt like the best way to let my creativity flow. While I still don't use an outline as that feels way too much like homework, I at least have the eventual goal of the characters laid out, and try to give a satisfying ending. And I can promise you, I'll never leave a book open-ended ever again. You'll sooner see me sky-diving or performing open-heart surgery.

Whenever I really enjoy the first book in a series, it seems the second almost never has the same magic, unless we're talking about Harry Potter (pun intended). And I HATE the formula of the second book that always seems to go like this: boy and girl who fell in love in book #1 are separated in book #2 and spend most of the time either trying to get back to each other, or mourning the loss of their love. I spent all of book #1 wanting them to finally hook up and most definitely don't want them to be apart again! So a big part of me is anxious in fighting in the formula. Another part of me is just worried it won't be as good as the first, and that I won't find the same "voice" of the character.

I've almost finished the first draft of the sequel to The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life, and have my fingers crossed that it will be out by Halloween. Will Shymers be next? I hope all my fears, ADD, and self-doubt will behave enough to make it happen. Besides, as J.R. Tolkien wrote in The Return of the King, “The whole thing is quite hopeless, so it's no good worrying about tomorrow. It probably won't come.”

On that happy note, hope everyone has a fun weekend.

Researching Paranormal Creatures

My favorite part in writing paranormal has always been doing the occasional research, since the subject is something I really get into. It's also a great excuse to re-watch some of my favorite television shows and movies to get the idea generator cooking, even though I always try to break away from "traditional" beliefs on anything paranormal.

In my newest book, Paranormal Keepers, my main character has been obsessed with paranormal creatures her whole life, and swears they're real, even though she doesn't have any proof. In preparation, I've been studying legendary creatures and witchcraft on the internet as well as buying "non-fiction" books. I was surprised to discover that I hadn't heard of some of these monsters before. To give you an idea, here's a list from wikipedia:

Adlay
Basilisk, Banshee, Boggart, Balaur, Biscione
Chimera, Centaur, Cyclops, Cockatrice, Cambion, Chokoy
Demon, Dhampir, Doppelgänger, Dragon, Drider, Dryad, Dwarf, Dybbuk, Demigod
Elf, Elve, Ent, Espon
Fairy, Faun, Feilong
Giant, Ghost, Ghoul, Genie, Goblin, God, Gorgon, Gryphon, Gremlin, Gnome, Grindylow, Golem
Harpy, Hydra, Hippogriff, Hobbit, Hinkypunk
Imp, Incubus
Jinn
Kraken, Kappa, Kitsune, Kumiho, Kobaloi
Leprechaun, Lycan, Lindworm
Mermaid, Merman, Manticore, Minotaur, Morrovol, Mummy, Moroi
Nymph, Nephilim
Orc, Ogre, Opinicus, Onocentaur
Phoenix, Pixie, Pukwudgie, Pixiu
Sylph, Siren, Shape-shifter, Succubus, Satyr, Salamander, Seraph, Shade, Strigoi, Shinigami
Troll, Taraxipi, Telekhine, Tikbalang, Tengu
Unicorn, Upir, Undine
Vampire, Vetala, Volkodlak, Vircolac
Werewolf, Werecat, Werepanther, Wendigo, Wraith, Wyvern, Wemic, witch, wiccan
Yeti, Yūrei, Yali
Zilant, Zombie

Although the Mothman didn't make this list, he makes an appearance in my new story. And Mothman Prophecies is one of my favorite movies, so I'm excited that I have a reason to watch it again.

Most of my creatures will have a different spin on the legends, mostly because I like to be different, and since we don't have solid proof of these things we don't really know what they actually look like or what they can do. But I swear to you, none of my creatures will be all cuddly, and none of them will sparkle.

What are some of your favorite paranormal movies involving some of these creatures?

Plot Twists, Holes and Messed Up Endings

I'm a total story junkie. I love hearing new tales, whether told in movies or books. While I usually say I like them to be completely unique and surprising, there are times when I get the feeling Hollywood's intentions are to do nothing more than completely shock the hell out of their viewers in any way they can with a really messed up ending. Sometimes it's a good thing, when done with good storytelling. Other times it's like watching a grown man dancing in footed pajamas to an off tune jazz number.

This past week I was able to get in a few movies during mommy/daughty time (daughter's nickname for it), and in the middle of the night when my brain refused to shut down. While I still haven't figured out why I like to scare the crap out of myself, later having to worry about shadows moving in the dark, scary thrillers are my favorite. Therefore I watched Dark Skies (for a third time), 6 Souls, and The Uninvited—all scary movies that each contained some pretty crazy plot twists.

While I really enjoyed the twists for the most part, I was also annoyed by some of the plot holes that came with them. I certainly don't expect each story to be perfect, and as a writer I know how horribly frustrating and infuriating plot holes can be. But when there are reasons to doubt the final outcome of all the events brought together, it just ruins the story. I can't discuss the plot holes of these three flicks in any detail or I would be giving away the twist for those who haven't seen them. But I would love to sit down with the movie's writers and ask if they could explain these holes, or if they were intentional. Do they even know they exist? Maybe they want the viewers to have to sit back and wonder about these things after the movie is finished. Or maybe the producers are so anxious to make a buck that they completely missed these holes all together.

Regardless, each of these movies earned a 4 or 5 star rating from me. Despite their flaws, the stories were intriguing enough to hold my interest, and make me glad I spent the time watching them.

Check out my full reviews for Dark Skies and 6 Souls on one of the other blogs I contribute to.

I'm Back (and as Crazy as Ever)!

*Cue AC/DC's Back in Black*

It's been an insane couple of weeks. We spent a week at our lake home celebrating the 4th of July and our 15th wedding anniversary, plus I've been getting ready to host my class reunion this week as well as working on my next book with my editor (Mind Benders—title in progress), writing the first draft of the sequel to The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life, and getting slammed with ideas for the NEXT book in line. Plus I'm getting ready to design a new book cover.

This is quite literally how I feel at the moment:

Do self-employed people in general put too much pressure on themselves to finish multiple things at once? Or is that an author thing? Maybe it's just an ADD thing. Regardless, it appears to be a "me" thing. Times like these I get frustrated, especially when I can't find time to read as much as I'd like, or watch my favorite TV series.

Hope all my US friends enjoyed the holiday. I love the hell out of this country and the 4th is my favorite holiday. I even have a tattoo of red, white and blue stars on my foot to prove it (plus to commemorate our anniversary).

Obviously I'm not here to say anything profund, but really just apologizing for the blogging silence. If I'm not committed anytime soon, I'll try to post sooner next time.

Celebrate the Small Things - June 7th

Happy Friday! Once again I'm going to list off the things I had to celebrate this week per the fabulous VikLit's Celebrate the Small Things blog hop. If you'd like to remind yourself of all the things life has to offer, sign up for the hop below.

Today I'm celebrating a very BIG thing, and that is my son's 11th birthday! Hard to believe that much time has passed already. Before I know it he's going to be taller than me with a deep voice and a gaggle of girls knocking on our door.

Career-wise, I'm celebrating the fact that I'm halfway done with the edits of the re-write on my first novel What I've Done! I have an amazing editor with the best ideas, and together we're making this story even better than before. Stay tuned for an updated release date.

I'm also celebrating the fact that I added nearly 10,000 words to my zombie sequel this week after signing up for JuNoWriMo. I knew it would be the motivation I needed to get past a major case of writer's block as the very first time I signed up for NaNoWriMo, I finished the first draft of What I've Done.

Hopefully by this time next week I'll be celebrating the fact that summer has finally arrived, my friends and family are all healthy, and we're done planting crops for the season. Keep your fingers crossed.

It. Is. Time. To. PARTY.

Happy Friday!!! This is not just any Friday, but the last Friday or any day my kids have school for the year!

even Hank is excited

Man, it feels good! This year has been one helluva ride, and I'm so relieved it's over. I have serious plans to sit back, relax, write and read a sh*t-ton of books over the next three months (check out my 2013 summer reading challenge on the left sidebar). As part of the fabulous VikLit's Celebrate the Small Things blog hop, I'm going to quickly list the things that had me do jumping jacks (in addition to the kids being done with school thing):

1. The re-write of What I've Done is still going amazingly well, and my editor just helped me add a new scene that brought a giant, gale-force wind of fresh air to the story.

2. I found an amazing designer to give my blog a facelift, and our vision of the new look is going to blow you away. Just. Wait.

3. Someone close to me is dealing with some health issues, and I'm just going to say that I'm so grateful to have her in my life, as well as all my family, friends, and fans! Three middle-aged people in our small community tragically/suddenly died in the past week and it has, once again, opened my eyes to the importance of life and just how precious it is.

4. I chaperoned my 13-year-old's class trip to the Minnesota Zoo on Wednesday. It has been many years since I didn't have a toddler in tow while visiting there, and I have a new appreciation of how much fun it can actually be. I thought for sure the 7th grade girls would become bored, but I literally had to drag them away from petting the sharks and stingrays.

I'm sure there were other things to celebrate, but my ADD is kicking into high gear and I need to close this post up as I started it a couple of hours ago. So I hope this Friday gives you lots of reasons to celebrate, and I hope you're gearing up for an epic summer!

Celebrate the Small Things

Happy Friday and long weekend to everyone! As part of VikLit's Celebrate the Small Things blog hop, I'm going to give a quick rundown of the reasons why I'm partying like it's 1999 (okay bad reference because I was extremely pregnant with my firstborn that New Year's Eve and didn't party at all).

1. The re-write of my first novel What I've Done is going so well it has me doing several fist pumps in the air per hour. My original editor was able to help me and I think we make an awesome team. It couldn't be going any better. I'm also working on an updated trailer, so stay tuned!

2. Today I get to go to our lake home for the first time this year! I miss my friends out there so badly and cannot wait to sit by the fire and drink a beer...or two (who am I kidding, I'm bringing a whole case). Plus my favorite band is going to be playing at the local bar there, which means I will get to dust off my dance moves after a long winter...

3. My cold is going away and I've been able to continue running. I feel amazing after a good run and have to restrain myself from doing it every single day. I probably owe all my running friends an apology for telling them they're psycho in the past...

4. School is almost over for the kids and I'm slowly regaining my own life back. Hopefully this will equate to more writing time so I can kick out the sequel to my zombie novel!

5. Some of my best writing friends and I got to hang out in another Google chat session. I got to beta read an awesome story for a friend. I am writing one of my editor's books and love it. Life in the writing world is awesome. This week, anyway.

Wishing you all a fantastic (and safe) holiday weekend!

Celebrate the Small Things

Happy Friday! This blog hop set up by the fabulous Vikki over at VikLit has been a great way to remind myself how precious the little moments in life are and to reflect on what I should be thankful for rather than what I wish I had.

This has really been a humdinger of a week. We welcomed one member into the family and had to say goodbye to another. When we buried my spirited step sister-in-law who lost her battle with cancer well before her time (at the age of 48), I was reminded of how precious life is and just how many things there are to celebrate by just being alive. She was one of those who lived every second of her life to the fullest with bright smiles, kindness and laughter. I've always tried to stay positive about things, but she has inspired me to bump it up a notch. What the result of that will actually end up being, I have yet to find out, but I can feel that there are some things that will change over time.

In that spirit, there really were a lot of small things to celebrate this week, but I'm just going to list off  the top 10 highlights:

1. My step-grandson was born and he's healthy and beautiful!

2. I broke through a major case of writer's block on my second zombie book!

3. I started running and lived (also got to buy first running shoes and running gear)!

4. After rescheduling my son's school concert three times because of weather, they finally had it and sang Phillip Phillips's song Home (one of my favs)!

5. My daughter had three track meets (thankfully before the snow hit) and did awesome!

6. With a six hour car ride we were able to spend time with all of our children on Saturday!

7. We celebrated my hubby's birthday!

8. I'm officially wearing one shirt size smaller than before!

9. My hubby won a decent amount of cash playing lotto and I won $100 playing pull-tabs!

10. I was reminded of how I'm surrounded by hordes of amazing people—family, friends and fans!

Of course there were the usual things to celebrate, like I don't have to report to a 9-5 job in an office somewhere, everyone in my family is pretty healthy, we have a nice home and food on the table, and I have the world's best friends. Although I don't plan to list them each Friday, I think from now on I will be noticing the really little things. Because in the end, it's all about the little things that make your life complete.

Summer Reading Challenge

I just realized this morning how slack I've been online. No video blogs, no Friday "Celebrate the Small Things" posts, nothing.

But I have a good excuse. Despite the fact that we still have snow on the ground and it's nearly May, my children are crazy busy. We've been running non-stop with volleyball, track, dance, confirmation, tae kwon do and that little thing called life.

I know that really doesn't excuse my daytime hours, but those have been filled with a major overhaul on my first novel What I've Done as well as trying to tackle my second zombie book.

And although I obviously love reading just as much as I love writing, I've had very little time for that lately. To remedy this, I've decided to challenge myself to read one book each week this summer (not PER DAY as previously stated *oops*). I'm not talking digital books (because if you watch my vlogs you know how well that goes), but honest to goodness books that I can hold in my hands and turn each page. 

So I've started hoarding books for this challenge (see list on left side of this webpage). Most of them are of the paranormal persuasion, but I'll probably throw a few old fashioned romance stories in the mix to spice things up. Plus there are a couple of John Green's I have yet to read. If you have any recommendations for something that is sure to knock my socks off, leave them in the comment below.

 So while I'm working from our lake home this summer, I plan to at least try to give you a video reviewing a book every week. We'll see how this goes.

I challenge you to set up your own reading goal for this summer. Even once a month would be an awesome goal for anyone who loves to read but can never seem to find enough time. Now if this freaking snow would just melt and it would warm up enough to wear a pair of capris for the first time in 2013, maybe I could actually believe that summer is really on its way...

Vlog Celebrating New Release and a Discussion on Horror Movies

I'm baaaaack. Today I celebrate the release of Cheating Death *throws confetti* and review a couple of horror movies, as well as discussing horror movies today in general. Oh, and I wear a really cool t-shirt that may quite frankly be my favorite.

Sorry for the funky lighting. It was a gloomy day here in Minnesota!

Check out Cargo (the 7 minute zombie movie I mentioned)

Read my review of Hannibal

Listen to the fun crew at Zombiecast

Celebrate the Small Things Blog Hop

Happy Friday! I just realized I spaced this blog hop off last Friday—sorry Vik! I'm keeping things short and sweet today as I have to leave for my daughter's track meet early afternoon.

Things that brought me joy the last two weeks:

1. I really haven't done a lot of writing related things in the past two weeks other than get Cheating Death ready for publication and What I've Done ready for a re-release, but I did receive a printed copy of Cheating Death in the mail, and there's no feeling like holding your hard work in your hands.

2. Season finale of The Walking Dead. It wasn't as grand as I was expecting, but at least most of our favorite characters survived.

3. Rihanna concert with my three daughters and some friends. That is one talented lady and it was fun to see her live.

4. Good times out with friends at the bar. Now that I've lost the pounds I was aiming for, I've been able to enjoy life again with some of my favorite things.

5. Brand-spanking new series, Hannibal. The movies based on the same character are some of my favorite, so I'm expecting big things. So far, so good. Check out my review on one of my other blogs: Two Chicks and a Blog.

6. This Walking Dead skit on Conan with Melissa McBride and Michael Rooker:



Hope everyone is starting to enjoy warmer weather! Have a great weekend!