It’s been quite a while since I’ve updated my site. A lot of things have happened since my last post. I took a hiatus from writing (which I’m still kind of on) I got married in December. YAY! Moved from Southern Cali to Las Vegas (and am loving it out here) Got a new job that starts in April (Super Excited) Start a romance book review site in February (http://www.wholelatteromance.blogspot.com) and got a new brainstorming idea that is percolating in my brain. Like I said. A lot. I hope to be returning soon to the writing world, but until then wanted to at least give an update.
This week, for my re-read of the month, I have decided to read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, book three of the series.
I had already previously re-read books 1 and 2 this year. I chose this book to re-read, because of all the Harry Potter mania going on (of which I still haven’t seen the final movie ) and because to me, Book 3 is really when the series starts to pick up. It gets darker, the story has more conflict as it unfolds, and we really truly are learning way more about Harry and his background as well as everyone elses.
To me, books 1 and 2 were a way to set up the story that is now at this point speeding up in terms of conflict and excitement. Yes, they had Lord Voldemort and evil things, but they didn’t have Lord Voldemort and evil things, if you get what I mean.
Anyway, I don’t think I’ve read this book since high school, so probably like 8 or 9 years ago, but I’ve seen the movie somewhat recently since ABC Family has like 2 Harry Potter weekend marathons a month lol. I”m at Chapter 5, in which the dementors stop the Hogwarts train and Harry and his fellow students have just finally arrived at the castle. Things are heating up!
I’m truly happy with my pick for re-read this month. I’ll keep you posted on how it’s going and whether or not I’m enjoying it as much as I remembered it. And stay tuned, for my next book pick of which will either be a autobiography or classic, a romance novel, or a novel of a genre I don’t normally read in.
Here here for expanding my reading horizons!
What books are you all reading right now? Got any suggestions?
Since I was in 5th grade (1998) I’ve been completely and utterly in love with Justin Timberlake. I mean, the man is just a bunch of sexy goodness. While I’m dying for him to release another album, I’ve personally been rewatching Disney *Nsync Concerts, HBO *Nsync and Justin Timberlake Concerts, taking myself back to my twelve year old self. See that post here.
In googling and youtubing Justin’s name, I’ve come across several videos of him that are pure awesomesauce. Including, his Jimmy Fallon History of Rap part 1 and 2 (google them, they’re hilarious) and also a few upcoming movies he’s going to be in that I can’t wait for.
In doing this I came across a Rhianna Video entitled Rehab. Now, I’m not really a Rhianna fan, only a few songs, and while Justin doesn’t really sing in this song, his presence his quadruple noted in my mind because of how freaking sexy he is in it. Watch it. You know you want to.
WARNING: May cause drool puddles, Justin Timberlake Sex Fantasy’s and inspiration for any muses who have been in hibernation. Enjoy!
I own about 1100 books. I’m sure that’s pretty typical for an avid reader such as myself. The problem is, that out of all of these books, I think I’ve barely read a quarter of them, if that. It’s an addiction, accumulating books at a faster rate than I can read them. I fi haven’t been to the bookstore (in person or online) in a while, I get antsy. I need my fix.
Despite having a loooooong, to be read pile, I find myself re-reading books more than reading new ones. Granted they’re from a while back so I don’t fully remember them, but you would think I’d spend my time reading the books I haven’t read. My fiance has long ago stopped attempting to figure out the way my mind works, and to tell you the truth, so have I.
I just go with it. lol.
Anyway, on to my point. I think the reason behind my re-reads, is that lately, there haven’t been any books I’m just DYING to read, so I reread ones I know I love. But I really need to start dwindling down that to-be-read pile. So I propose this:
I’m going to allow myself one re-read a month, one romance novel a month, one autobiography/biography/classic a month, and one book in a genre I don’t normally read in.
It’s time to expand my reading horizons. Time to get rid of the to0be-read pile (though I doubt that will ever truly happen.) Best of all, my goal is to blog about the books I’m reading, why I chose them, whether I’m enjoying them etc. On top of that, I promise I’m at least going to try to create a regular presence on my blog, how often regular is, I’m not sure, but I’m going to try.
Anyways, curious minds want to know, what are you reading right now, and are you enjoying it?
A few weeks ago, myself and one of my best friend took a little trip to the Staples Center in Los Angeles to see the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block concert. Talk about a fun time. The only thing that would have made it better was if it was an *Nsync concert. But regardless, it brought me back to 1998/1999 when I was 11 or 12 years old.
How simple life was when your biggest argument between friends was who got which hot boy band star. (Justin Timberlake all the way for me still to this day) But don’t get me wrong. Those were intense arguements followed by temporarily broken friendships because two girls both wanted Justin lol.
I miss those days and going to that concert, I felt transformed. My heart felt lighter. It was as though, for those brief few hours at that concert, all my worries disappeared. I got to be that 12-year old girl again. And while short-lived and a whole lot of fun, I’m glad to be back to my 23 year old self. (Though I still listen to *Nsync, BSB, JT etc. on daily basis)
Sometimes a break like that is necessary. Not only does it help you get away, but it also puts into perspective what you have in life now, and despite wanting the simplicity of the life of a 12 year old again (though the fiance argues that I’m in fact, quite possibly, still a 12 year old) I wouldn’t trade the life I have right now, with my wonderful family and fiance,in for anything.
You would think I’d be devastated by yet another rejection, but I’m not. Rather, I’m motivated. I’m determined to make that leap from unpublished to published, just maybe not with that particular story.
Sometimes what you need is space, so that’s what I’m going to do. Give that story some space and focus on my other stories that I’m very excited. Perhaps one day I’ll return to my first manuscript and revamp it, perhaps I won’t. There’s no way to know for sure, at least not yet. But I am sure about moving on, at least for the time being.
This time in my life is about changes, adjustments, time, and ME. It’s time for a change of story and while it will be weird not working on To Catch a Thief any longer, I need to focus on the stories that are exciting me.
Currently, I’m taking a worldbuilding class to help with my current novel, Seduced by Shadows. I had originally written a good 30% of the story and decided to start it over because it wasn’t working and I couldn’t figure out why.
Well, now it’s easy for me to see. I had never written a fantasy romance before now, and I was attempting to without any idea how to go about it, I didn’t ground myself in my own world’s history and my characters backgrounds enough and as a result my story came out flat. Now, I’m taking the time to outline my story, which is doing wonders for this former panster, and I’m taking that worldbuilding class. I can’t believe how much I am learning about my world already and I so can’t wait to start the first draft of the story soon. I’m itching to write it.
One thing is for sure, my writing has improved a whole lot, and who knows maybe it’s enough to get myself published this time around. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
It feels like a month ago that I met my fiance. It’s been over 5 years. It feels like a week ago that I got engaged. It was over a year ago. It feels like yesterday that I just started planning my wedding. It was half a year ago. I don’t know where the time went. It’s going to fast. So many times, I forget to just stop and smell the roses.
It’s very disconcerting sometimes to wake up and realize, Oh my gosh, where did it all go, what did I do during that time. Did I waste it? Do something memorable? It can be depressing, especially when you realize you will never get that time back. So it’s about making the most of it. After all, none of us really knows how long we have on this earth. Life is short and time flies, whether you’re having fun or not.
It’s been almost 2 weeks since I’ve done anything progressive in regards to my newest story and I can’t get those two weeks back. All I can say is, at least those two weeks went by so fast because I was spending time with loved ones, enjoying life. I’m so busy most of the time that taking time away from normal activites makes me stressed because all I can do is think of all the things I still have to do. That’s happening now.
My whole month of July is basically booked and I have so much to do. Save the Dates. Invitations. Cake. Wedding Planner. Get a song list to my DJ. Find an officiant. Register. Work. Grade papers. Finish the outline for my novel. Work. Meetings for my fiance’s business. Bill paying. House cleaning. Bridal Showers (A friends) and before I know it August is going to be here, which will mean only 5 months until the wedding. In case you’re wondering there’s only 22 more weeks until my wedding, and most of those weekends (the only time I really have to get stuff done) I’m already booked. I think I’m going a tad bit insane.
But despite everything going on, I’m having a blast. I’m so excited to get to spend the rest of my life with the man I love. I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. I’m going to enjoy the barbeque at my brother in laws house tonight. I’m going to enjoy the wine tasting with one of my best friends tomorrow for her Bday. I’m going to enjoy my friends bridal shower and look forward to my own.
Frankly, despite how fast time flies. I love being busy, even if it does cause me a tad bit of stress. And frankly there is only one thing that is really causing me stress right now and I’ll be done with it hopefully by Sunday so then I’ll be able to stop and take a breath. (And smell those roses) Plus, if I keep busy and it makes the time go by faster, then that’s awesome because that means that I’ll be able to get to the day I marry my husband-to-be sooner. And I most definitely can’t wait for that.
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot. (A shock for this blonde, I know) What I’ve been mulling over is simple really. At what point do we really, truly take charge of our lives? So many of us just go about day to day stuff, wishing, hoping, wondering if it will ever get better. Is this what life is supposed to be? Nothing but wishing, hoping, wondering? What about actually doing? Rather than sitting around waiting for something to happen, why don’t most of us actually go out there and MAKE something happen?
Many people are content and comfortable with their lives as they are. That’s great for them. Because really, what it comes down to is this: What makes YOU happy? What do YOU want? Because it’s YOUR life and no matter what you believe, you are in charge of it. It’s just a matter of taking control of it and shaping it into what you want. Whether it’s to raise a family with a wonderful husband, or to get that college degree and work for a Fortune 500 company, or to write the book of your heart and try as hard as you can to get published.
Maybe not everything is in our control, but a large portion of it is, and I firmly believe that controlling that large portion will help with the smaller part that is out of our hands.
I have many goals in life, many things I want to accomplish and do, and I’m not sitting around waiting for something to happen so that I can accomplish them anymore, I’m going to go out there and do my best to make it happen. Maybe it will work, maybe it won’t, but one thing is for sure, at least I’ll have been taking control of MY life.
I want to be a published author, I want to be a CPA, I want to raise a family with my own personal hero (who I actually will be marrying in December) and be a stay at home mom.
It’s my life, so who’s to say I can’t do those things? No one, but me. The question is: Will you join me in taking charge of your life and making things happen?
My assignment for you: Figure out what it is that you want, and get it! Fight for what you want.
As I’m anxiously awaiting the results of an editor over at TWRP on whether or not she’s going to accept my MS or not, I wanted to say thanks for stopping in and welcoming me to my first Six Sentence Sunday yesterday. It was a huge success and totally fun to be able to read what everyone is working on. I plan on participating this week as well because it’s already an addiction.
This week for me is going to be a busy one, I have lectures to give to my math students, I have papers to grade, I have my other full time job, I have to go to a different work location twice this week, and I’m moving this weekend. And have yet to start packing.
I’m going to do my best to fit in some writing, but it’s going to be tough. I’m going to bring down my daily goal for myself, so that I don’t feel like a failure, and limit myself to trying just to write 1000 words this week. If I can do that on top of everything else going on, I’ll feel like a success.
Hopefully, I’ll be too busy to let my mind anxiously wander over to whether I’m finally going to get my big writing break or not. Cross your fingers for me
All right! It’s time for my very first ever Six Sentence Sunday. I’m very excited. You can see everyone else’s Six Sentences by clicking here. Go show everyone some love! Now on to my Six!
This is from my current WIP, Seduced by Shadows.
Blade’s lips quirked as he wrapped his arms around Eve’s waist and pulled her flush against him.
“I don’t know that I’ll ever be prepared when it comes to you.”
He ran his hands down her damp arms, his gaze roaming over her, taking in every inch and curve she had to offer. “Good to know.”
His face inched closer to hers, his mouth a whisper away from touching her soft, strawberry flavored lips. Her breath warmed his mouth, sending darts of desire through his body that he struggled to keep at bay.
That’s my six. Bet you wish you could read on Don’t forget to visit the link above to see other participants in this weeks Sunday Six.
) and because to me, Book 3 is really when the series starts to pick up. It gets darker, the story has more conflict as it unfolds, and we really truly are learning way more about Harry and his background as well as everyone elses.
I own about 1100 books. I’m sure that’s pretty typical for an avid reader such as myself. The problem is, that out of all of these books, I think I’ve barely read a quarter of them, if that. It’s an addiction, accumulating books at a faster rate than I can read them. I fi haven’t been to the bookstore (in person or online) in a while, I get antsy. I need my fix.
) Plus, if I keep busy and it makes the time go by faster, then that’s awesome because that means that I’ll be able to get to the day I marry my husband-to-be sooner. And I most definitely can’t wait for that.
