Yep – gave a test today.
I have a love-hate relationship with test day.
I love not having to teach
I hate having to grade the assignments and tests.
But I did leave school both exhausted [5yo up half the night last night] and done.
Day 12: 1263
Total: 22831
I have a tiny bit today but there’s that exhausted thing [that seems to catch me most when I sit down] and my First Impressions Coordinator duties – which are also caught up at the moment :).
Back to work!
I don’t know how I missed Firefly the first time around [or second or third or 15th]. But yesterday was the 10th anniversary Firefly marathon with the movie Serenity playing on another channel and then a reunion special. There were something like 13 or 14 eps plus the movie and an hour special. I watched a couple last night. Most of the rest today and am currently on the next to last one.
I haven’t gotten a ton done but I don’t think Firefly had much to do with that. More like plot-y type stuff. But I think I got it worked out.
Day 12: 528
Total: 21568
I’ve more than doubled that today – and likely still have a bit more before I go to bed :).
Tomorrow will be even better. I hope. But I’m giving a test which means lots of grading [since assignments are due the same day]. This weekend though… Saturday is a LONG write-in so I’d LOVE to be far enough along to finish that day.
But now – a bit more writing to do… 🙂
So yesterday I wrote a grand total of 29 words.
I was hoping for a huge day but it’s not gonna happen.
Instead, I ended up sleeping in a bit, having child related drama that comes from a rainy day cooped up inside without enough sleep.
And working on First Impressions Entries. I’m a category coordinator and spent today going through all the entries received thus far and making sure they meet guidelines, etc. It would have gone faster if my computer hadn’t stopped cooperating at one point ;).
But I’m nearly through the ones I have and there are very few issues of any significance, but it takes time. By the time I’m done, it’ll be about time for the kids to head to bed. Then maybe I’ll get some writing in…
On the upside, I *think* I’ve [mostly] addressed the concerns from yesterday with my plot so full speed ahead?
Which reminds me… Firefly marathon today ;). Recorded so… Firefly marathon tomorrow :D.
Yesterday was so-so for writing.
I’m not sure what my actual “before bed” total was, but my official My Book Therapy WriMo count was 1687 for 20332. But my manuscript is at 21011 so… Uh… math… right.
Think that’s 2366 for yesterday…
Today is a big fat goose egg.
Had another plot thing rear it’s ugly head today. Still working through that one. Plus I did a bunch of stuff for ACFW’s First Impressions Contest. I’m a category coordinator and entries are coming in like crazy.
I need to get my entry/ies in this week :p.
But tonight, hubby took me out for my official birthday dinner and my best friend and her hubby joined us. We were at Olive Garden for about 90 minutes or so. Yum. Plus they have the “today and tomorrow” thing so for like a dollar more I got leftovers for the week :). AND since we were there for my birthday, I got this really yummy cake.
Then we went to Barnes and Noble [shares a parking lot] for another 90 minutes or so. Found a couple of books I’ll likely pick up for research purposes but didn’t actually buy anything.
Now… more First Impressions stuff and then maybe a bit of writing…
So… birthday was nice. A pretty normal Thursday. Tonight, one kiddo was at a slumber party. Another at my sister’s house overnight. And my in-laws took the other two for a couple hours so we could go out. We hit Steak-n-Shake [where I thought of you, Margie!].
Tomorrow night we get to go out too. Two date nights in a row?! Unheard of!!!
Writing was slim pickins yesterday. My ELEVEN YEAR OLD nearly beat me ;). She had just over 1000 and I was at 1068. Oy.
But today…
I found this:
LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s available for preorder. Yes. It’s preordered. 😉
Sadly, it won’t show up at my house until May. /sigh/
Day 8: 1068
Total: 18645
I did pass 20K today and spent some time brainstorming with new[ish] friend/critique partner Stacey Zink. I spent about 20 minutes [in IM] blathering on about my plot and she fixed my issue in about half a sentence :p. THANK YOU! I’m excited about it :D.
YAY!
Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When Kate’s grandmother asks Kate to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance.
Yet, she discovers a different kind of project upon meeting the man hired to renovate the house. Matt Jarreau is attractive and clearly wounded — hiding from people, from God, and from his past. Kate can’t help but set her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light… whether he likes it or not.
This is the first book review I’ve written in a long time for a book I read for “fun” only. Don’t get me wrong, I only offer to review books I think I’ll enjoy so it’s no chore to read them. But this book wasn’t on my influence or review lists, but when it was free for Kindle a while back, Casey Herringshaw told me it was one of the best books she’d read all year. That stuck into my TBR stack near the top of the “for fun only” books. Plus I found a paper copy for sale at my local Christian bookstore. So I have both.
And Casey was right.
My Stubborn Heartis well-written, witty, fun, yet poignant and nearly tear-inducing [only my faith in Casey – and by then several others like my dear Pepper Basham – and the genre promising me a Happily Ever After kept the tears at bay].
It’s one of those books I have a love-hate relationship with – which is unusual in a debut novel. Love in that I, well, love it. Hate in that I read it thinking “man, I could never write this well”. Not a good thing for an aspiring author to be thinking ;).
Becky [who I’ve since met online] does a wonderful job creating real, flawed characters who also exhibit traits we ourselves long to have. The romance is just right – not too much, but not too little. You know before these two do that they belong together. But at the same time, one is willing to put his/her dreams aside [including, by that point, the relationship] for the greater good of the other character, and because it’s what God wants. That’s something many of us have a hard time with.
There were a couple of things that surprised me a bit because of who the publisher is [Bethany House] and they tend to be pretty conservative in what they publish – or at least my impression of their reputation. It wasn’t anything bad – not at all – just not what I expected [but was glad to see as it made the characters that much more real].
I have to say, I hope Becky’s sophomore effort [May! Need any influencers, Becky?!] is a sequel to this one [though I don’t remember an obvious character to get one – well, maybe one] because I want to see more of Kate and Matt in the future. Otherwise, I’ll have to make up stories for them in my head.
And I’ve already got too many voice clamoring around in there.
;).
It doesn’t take over the top spot of “Best Book I’ve Read All Year” [Still held by Tricia Goyer’s By The Light of the Silvery Moon], but Becky is now in my auto-buy list right next to Mary Connealy and Julie Lessman and Janice Thompson.
Overall rating: 9.25 out of 10
Er. Well, it’s my birthday. And my BFF’s birthday. That’s how we became BFFs almost… 30 [eep!] years ago. Or maybe not almost 30. Maybe it’s 23…
Regardless, a long time.
Plus that means you get free dinner at Lambert’s. Or you used to. Now they give you 9.99 off plus a free hubcap cinnamon roll.
Did get a LITTLE bit of writing done while I was there but they were super busy – one bus already there and two more waiting. I got in quickly since I was by myself, but didn’t hang out very long once I was done eating.
I *did* get my food thrown at me though ;).
I have one handwritten page from my second workplace of the day:
I need to transcribe it and get a couple of K in.
Yesterday’s totals:
Day 7: 3436
Total: 17577
Shiloh Jacobs is planning her wedding without family, without money, and without a clue—and trying to make a go of small-town Southern life. Until she stumbles on an unsolved case about a missing woman that makes her run in the opposite direction—right into the would-be killer’s web of plans. In the midst of sorting through her tragic past and strained relationships, Shiloh finds herself on the run from a madman—and hoping she can make it to her wedding alive.
I read the second book in this series, Like Sweet Potato Pie, a few months ago. One of the things I lamented at the time was my unfamiliarity with the characters from book one. That wasn’t an issue this time as I remembered them all from last time.
Ms. Spinola does a wonderful job of creating a cast of characters we can care about – and laugh with. While playing to stereotypes of Southern hicks, she also breaks those molds with characters who SEEM to be one way but in reality have many facets to their personalities and to their lives.
The mystery/suspense side of the book kept me guessing until the very end [and I’m usually pretty good and picking up on who the bad guy is – this person tickled my bad guy/gal radar but not enough for me to really focus it – like several others did].
Overall, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading whatever Ms. Spinola has coming next.
Overall Rating: 7.75 out of 10 stars
So I have a character who is near and dear to my hero and heroine. And I’m having bad stuff happen to her – so they can deal with some of it together.
And I decided her appendix needed to burst.
So I emailed my friend Becki. Because her son’s appendix burst about 2.5 years ago. And she spent part of last night and tonight IMing with me walking me through her experience.
Of course, in the email, I forgot to mention it was FICTIONAL and she thought it was one of my kids… 😉
She also didn’t take extensive notes [/sigh/ What am I going to do with her?]. She promised to from now on, whenever interesting stuff happens, so that she can help me more later ;).
Love that girl!!! She was one of my first supporters.
In fact, it was while she was at the hospital with her son that I went to see her and she started my Facebook Fan Page [because I felt weird starting it myself]. Okay. I started it. But I used her computer ;). She was willing but didn’t know how. Then made me an admin. I think she may have been un-admin-ed at some point…
Anyway…
Day 6: 1120
Total: 14141
Today is going better. I’m at about 2250 so far and still going with the appendectomy stuff.
So… back to work :).
The winner of the September New Releases Clash is…
And thank you to all our participating authors:
It was a tight race and everyone did great. Many, many of our readers commented they would like to read all of them!
About The Road To Mercy:
Tragedy, love, & secrets meet on a journey of faith.
Josh Harrison, a contemporary Christian singer, and his wife Bethany face a difficult decision that also tests their faith. A rupture in Beth’s carotid artery leaves her on the brink of death even as she’s pregnant with their first child. While Dr. Ben Abrams urges her to terminate the pregnancy to save her own life, she and Josh step out on faith and decide to carry the baby to full term.
During the next few months, Josh struggles with his faith, Beth hides a secret that may destroy their marriage. She also discovers a decades-old connection to Dr. Abrams that could change his life forever.
ENDORSEMENTS
… The Road to Mercy is a blessing wrapped up in a novel—a reminder of the kindness of God.
~ Rebecca St. James, Singer, author, actress
Exquisite!
~ Ane Mulligan, Novel Rocket
Kathy Harris weaves a tale that crosses generations while drawing readers into a dramatic story that has both heart and soul.
~ Ace Collins, author of The Yellow Packard and The Christmas Star
A terrific read beautifully trumpeting the exquisite worth of every human life.
~ Rusty Whitener, author of A Season Of Miracles, Christy Award Finalist
…captivating from the very beginning.
~ Joe Bonsall, author and entertainer
ON SALE LINKS
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-road-to-mercy-kathy-harris/1108857098
What readers had to say:
*I saw several others which may also make it to my shelf as well! Thanks for the inspirational choices.
*The Road to Mercy looks fabulous! I can’t wait to read it.
*I am so thankful to these authors for following the path that the Lord has chosen for them.
*Just finished The Road to Mercy and was so deeply touched by it.
*I LOVED The Road to Mercy by Kathy Harris, but this was a difficult vote for me – I also love Donn Taylor’s writing and now I have to go get his book!
*My daughter’s name is Mercy so I am drawn to that title. The hook is very captivating and I usually don’t read contemporary. Great hooks from all of the writers. As a writer myself I know it is not an easy task.
*These all look sooo good!
*I love the variety of tiltles offered!
Kathy Harris is an author by way of a divine detour into the Nashville entertainment business. She graduated with a B.S. in Communications from Southern Illinois University and has spent the past two decades employed as a marketing director in the Nashville music industry.
An active member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the publicity officer for Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, Kathy lives near Nashville with her husband and their two Shiloh Shepherd dogs. Her fiction debut, The Road to Mercy, was released by Abingdon Press on September 1, 2012.
Kathy regularly interviews literary and music guests on her blog at www.DivineDetour.com. Her author site is www.kathyharrisbooks.com. You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KathyHarrisAuthor or Twitter @DivineDetour.