A writer's year - less clutter

My goal is to post every couple weeks about what my characters have told me lately, how they've taken hold of their story and, well, made it theirs and not mine. A few posts about life, the seasons, and who and what have influenced my writing.

January - Like a lot of people, I see the winter months as a time for nesting, staying home out of the cold weather (most of the time. I mean, what is with Mother Nature this year?!), and prepping for spring. The past couple weeks I've focused on prepping for spring - going through more magazines than I realized I had, going through clothes, the kitchen, my craft supplies, everything I can. Just trying to simplify. It's not easy. I'm the type of person who holds onto things for years and just knows that as soon as I throw something away, I'll need it. Most of the time I don't, of course, and I'm forcing myself to do toss, toss, TOSS, things I haven't used in... well, probably years. I'm asking myself - do I need this or do I want it?, when was the last time I actually used it? and, oddly enough, why the heck do I have two, or more, of these if I haven't used it in so long? Does the darn thing work? All those questions organizing gurus tell you to ask - I'm actually doing it.
So, lots of trips to the apartment complex dumpster.

While the living room and my bedroom are mini unnatural disasters as I continue January's project, things are finally settling down. I hope to have it completed by the end of the month. And yet, I also hope to keep doing it at least a few hours every month. I can already tell the difference in, well, just the clutter. There really is something to the talk about how less stuff and things about makes you feel calmer.

My three cats were entertained as they supervised and in a few instances, knocked over stacks of neat magazine piles I'd made according to subject - health/fitness, food, house, garden, etc. - and then proceeding to stretch out to groom themselves and each other. Totally not helping, and delaying the entire project, but looking so content and adorable it was difficult to get too frustrated. They quite approve of the now empty baskets that previously held the magazines though. New napping spots are always welcome.

I've also been busy writing. The Interstellar Matchmaker series is bubbling along - Bessie's oldest brother Adam, the oldest of the Andersson cousins and Copper Fire's police chief, is next up. And then there's some fire and ice to deal with, and my twist on time travel to finish up the series. The characters in Beloved of the Beast aren't being still either - Unleashed's Wulfgar has a cousin who has three weeks to be wed, but the intended bride's family has secrets. (hint - clues are in Unleashed and the soon-to-be-released Claimed). It's my twist on Red Riding Hood, with Snow White next.

Stay safe and warm during winter storms and may Mother Nature bring us an early warm spring!

No more negative

There is just too much negativity around us. I don't think I'm the only one stressing, over-stressing to be honest, about things I can do absolutely nothing about. World events, national troubles, etc. We're hammered with them 24/7 in this age of a non-stop news cycle. And it wears us down and exhausts us.

I remember when news was on for thirty minutes, maybe an hour if you add in local stations' contributions, a night. People would watch, tsk, wonder what would or could be done, and then returned to focus on their own lives. There might be great outpouring at noteworthy events - i.e. JFK's assassination (before I was born), the moon landing (I remember that) or other significant happenings. We weren't drowning in continual news, most of it terrible, horrific and tragic.

And then people go around tut-tutting and wondering why we're all so stressed out, trying to drown our sorrows with alcohol or drugs, over-eating, with medical conditions that our grandparents would have shaken their heads in bewilderment about.
Duh. Millions get spent on studies that tell the blazingly obvious.

So, first thing I'm doing is shutting off the news. I know - in this day and age, it'll be nearly impossible to do. But I am going to. I can feel the difference in my mood, the tension in my body, especially my neck and shoulders, and the doctor can certainly tell in my blood pressure.

I figure I'll still know what's going on. I'm not going to go around with earplugs or a blindfold so I'll still pick up on things, but... just imagine. Not being so mentally and emotionally exhausted because I'm so damn wrapped up about things I can do absolutely nothing about. Am I sorry that tragedies happened around the world? Absolutely. But I can't do anything to prevent them.

What I CAN do is focus on my corner of the world. I CAN focus on my mood, my emotions, and my health. I CAN care about the people I come into daily or regular contact with, and pay attention to what they're going through. I CAN do something in my local region to make the world better. Maybe, just maybe, if enough people do that, the positive will spread.
I am going to focus on the positive this year, focus on what I CAN do, and turn it into WILL do and then DID.

A Tweak a Week

I LOVE the holiday season. These next few weeks are my favorite out of the entire year. Already the magazines are full of articles - decorating, cooking, baking, crafts, gift ideas and more. And, of course, they also have articles and ideas on how to get through the next couple months without gaining any weight. Followed by the January issues full of 'New Year New You' exercise and diet routines.
I always try those, but rarely, if ever, stick to them. It's just too much all at once. Plus, I just don't have time to workout for an hour or the finances to go to some fancy gym or buy equipment for home plans or buy the exotic foods in their plans.
Soooo, I thought I'd try something a bit different. Gradual changes that get me through the holidays and into 2017 without gaining more than a pound or two (which I don't mind. Trust me - my Mom's cheesecake is worth it!) and keeping some semblance of health and sanity.
Every Sunday I'll have another suggestion to 'add in'. Nothing will be big or massively time-consuming or a hit to your pocketbook. Just little tweaks that can add up.

This week's tweak - walking 30 minutes a day. It doesn't have to be all at once. If you're at an office, try to get up every couple hours and walk the halls for ten minutes. Or squeeze in 15-20 minutes during lunch. Bonus if you can go outside (weather permitting) and get fresh air and sunshine for your Vitamin D daily dose. Or, as I've done on occasion - get up every hour and walk 5 minutes. Thirty plus minutes easy peasy. If you have a dog, you're probably getting your thirty minutes with no problem. Keep track and add on a few minutes if you need to. Have children? Have them come with you in the evening (if it's safe, of course) and use the time as a way to unwind from the busyness of school and activities and talk with them.

I have a small notebook to write down the days of the week and how I fit in the walking - like Tuesday - 5, 10, 10, 5. And I'm done. Anything to get up and moving.

I am going to make it through the last eleven weeks of the year making small tweaks that focus on me and start 2017 healthier and happier. Join me!

October crafts with Abby

What to do when there are high winds and the threat of thunderstorms? I get crafty and pull out projects kept for just such times. With three cats (and three sons now flown from the nest) the furniture has a bit of wear and tear. So, I came up with a way of covering up the damage and adding to my seasonal décor.

First project – updating the ottoman for the rocking chair – I decided on one pattern, measured the ottoman and added a couple extra inches to tuck under. At each corner, I sewed small strips of elastic to hold it in place and… voila, a new cover.

Second project – this one took longer – I used ‘fat’ quilting squares and sewed them together to go around the sides. Taking a remnant of the material used for the ottoman, I cut that to fit the top, with extra for the hem. And… done.

I don’t think upholstering will be a second career, but I like the results and am already looking for material that will fit with my winter/Christmas decorations so I can do more over Thanksgiving.

Bonus? Panda Bear approves. I think.

Amazing week!

What a week! It started off fantastically - an email with the contract for the second in my Beloved of the Beast series on Tuesday.
MY TENTH!!
I was still floating and flying from that when Wednesday evening I got another email - a contract for the third in the Interstellar Matchmaker series!!

I am always so thrilled to get an email, but to get two within 48 hours? Yeah, my feet aren't touching the ground for a while!
And the fourth Interstellar Matchmaker is humming along nicely, and Allura and Barden FINALLY explain why Allura started her matchmaking... and what must still happen.

And the third in the Beloved of the Beast is bubbling in my head and ready to be written.

Busy, busy, busy!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Blizzard of Inspiration

This past January a blizzard shut down the East Coast for a few days. My plan had been to work on an idea that had been spinning in my mind since Christmas. When I woke up though, something entirely different had taken over. Allura and Barden were the little voices in my head and gave me a rush of images - I saw Alice and Tre in the backseat of the car, him coming into her classroom to propose, Bessie in the wine cellar, Chance remembering his sisters, Darcy and Tina finding Hank and Jake in the fields, and everything else.
I've learned to listen to the voices and write what they tell me. And in one day I had Alice and Tre's story roughed out - nearly 10k words, plus the rest of the characters, their stories and the purpose of the series (which is revealed in book four - Tina and Jake's story), and the finale in the eighth book.
I was a bit blurry-eyed when I sent it off to Angela, my editor and amazing cover artist from the beginning. But she liked it and off we went.

I love the Fall season - the colors, the sweaters, football games, cider and hot cocoa. Prepping over Labor Day weekend is essential, but who wants to spend three days doing chores or pulling out boxes and bins? Especially if the weather is so enticing outside? So I mix things up - a few seasonal preps, monthly to-do's, and some pampering. What do you do to get ready for a new season?

Labor Day To-do
1. Pull 'summer-only' clothes and sandals out of closet
2. Pull out some transitional clothes - medium sweaters, heavier skirts and pants
3. Get mums and redo big pots on the deck
4. Check supplies - personal care, cat food/treats (heaven forbid I run low on those!) and pantry
5. Update grocery lists to be ready to make chilis, stews and soups
6. Pedi-mani - Friday - remove old polish to let nails breathe, Saturday - foot soak, Sunday - after bath - new polish on
7. Continue Hobbit and Lord of the Ring marathon