Back To School...

I am currently sitting in class waiting for it to start. With time to spare, I thought I'd stop by and say "Hello. I've missed you all!"

Classes started on Monday for me and it looks as though this is going to be a great semester. I've got classes that are really making me think and that is a wonderful thing. I hate being in classes where I simply sit and daydream. It doesn't inspire me to do my best. The constant drone merely lets me know that this is a place I don't want to be in. The one class I couldn't wait for may actually be that sort of class. I'm giving it another day and hoping I will actually be inspired.

I've been working on building a website and I'm very happy with the way it is turning out. It is taking a lot of work, but the input I've received is saying that it is well on its way to being completed. I need to finish the book though before I launch it for you.

Class is about to start so I will sign off for now. I hope you all have a very blessed day and that you find inspiration in every moment.

I Am So Bad At This...

I was chatting with my little sister this morning and realized I hadn't blogged in a long time. Over a month to be exact! I am so sorry!!

I wish I could say I have been busy writing your favorite characters and creating new stories for you, but school is kicking my backside this semester. Algebra is my nemesis and I have no idea how to conquer it. It doesn't help that my mind is on other things 99% of the time either. I just can't seem to wrap my brain around all the stuff Algebra entails.

As for my books, well, I can tell you that I'm working on a series about a coven of witches set in the U.P. The first book is going to be dark and there are days it scares me how dark I can go. My mind is a twisted place, let me tell  you. Slate is one of those guys who makes a woman sit up and drool, then she gets to know him. That's when her heart falls head over heels in love with him because at the core of Slate is this passionate man who is scared of being hurt. Abby has been hurt and abused. She's a mama with a beautiful little girl who was hurt by her father. Both of these wounded souls are under Slate's protection and in his heart. This is one of the hardest stories for me to write simply because I've seen where it goes and it's going to be a long hard road for Abby, Slate, and Trinity. I can only promise the reader that it will tear your heart out, rebuild it, and make you believe in love again.

I'm also writing the fourth Cedar River series book. This one is going to take the readers away from the Goldens (slightly) and show you some of the other residents of our beautiful town. I know everyone loves the dragons, but there are people who live on the rougher side of town. You'll get to know the Black boys and their mother as well as Gideon (who is introduced in The Golden Dragon's Treasure). They are as different as night and day when compared to the Golden boys and I love them. Avery, Oliver, and Beckett are troublemakers and walk a fine line between good and bad. They drink and fight, but they fight for the women they love. That is something that matters to me. Each of these otter shifters has picked their women already. They've surprised me with their choices, but I am game if they are. They didn't choose skinny women. They didn't choose women who are weak. They chose women with curves and backbones of tungsten. 

So, this is what I've been up to lately. I'm trying to keep up with all of you, trust me. My life is in chaos as I try to move into the next phase of my life which is going to be HUGE, but like Slate and Abby's, it will be worth the climb to get there.

A Mish-Mash of Topics

I've been dealing with so many things lately that I have forgotten to do a lot of things, including visiting with you!

With school back in session, I now have homework to add back onto my list of things to do. I'm taking a creative writing class this semester and I'm really excited about it...except for this whole poetry thing. 

Don't get me wrong...I love poetry. I spent many years of my life pouring my feelings onto paper in the form of poetry. Unfortunately, I didn't really study it. The forms, feelings, etc. of other poets have not been my focus. Now, I have to keep a poetry journal where I write 100+ words about the poem, another 100+ words about the author's thoughts, then a poem of my own that follows the form of the author. Let me just say, I'm behind.

I also had the impression I would finish Book 3 in the Cedar River series before I went back to school. Hahahahahahaha! I'm at 62,000+ words and I still am not done. I have a lot of story to tell in this book. I'm introducing so many new characters plus I have two big events to get written in. I am beginning to wonder why I set goals. Maybe I should simply forget it. It may work better.

I went to find a pair of socks and couldn't find any that were clean. That tells me the laundry was WAY behind! I rarely wear socks in the house. I'm a barefootin' it kind of gal, but lately, it has been cold enough that I've needed socks. Even my thick socks were dirty. *Sigh* So, I put in a load of laundry since underwear is the next thing to run out and I CANNOT let that happen :D

Oooh, before I forget to mention it: I put a contest up on my website on Friday. With an iPad 2 to giveaway plus a couple of gift cards, I expect to see people entering. I'm doing this because I promised my readers a giveaway when the 2nd book was released. It took me a little time to get all the legal junk together. But it will run through April 1st, so stop by and enter.

With Valentine's Day around the corner, you may need to buy a gift for that someone special. Be sure to check out my books (listed on the left hand side) for that urban fantasy/paranormal romance lover on your list.

I need a little pop of color today. My world is coated in white so I feel as if I'm living in a black and white film at the moment :D This lovely flower pops up every spring just outside my door. 

I took this in the fall. I actually had dipped my toes in that water. It was that warm. And since I'm craving warm weather, this seems appropriate. My painted toes dug into that cool wet sand and the water splashes against my ankles...*sigh*

With homework to do, I will get this posted and start my work. I hope you all have a blessed week! Stay warm/cool! (Depending on where you are in the world)