Where Have I Been Lately?

 Where have I been lately? 

Well other than being busy, I have also been under the weather. Then Easter happened and we had family visiting for the week. 

I am still busy with writing projects, planning social media posts, and planning to go back to school. 

The Seventh Woman is edited and ready to send off. They want us to wait until closer to the due date so it won't  get lost in their emails. That's not a bad idea. My story for the doll anthology is called Screams In The Night. It is coming along great. I have also been planning a couple other stories as well. 

I have also been quite a bit of reading lately. So be prepared for more reviews coming soon. I am currently planning to read four ARC's and review them, plus some other books. I have read 28 books for my 100 book reading challenge so far. I love doing these challenges!

I know this post isn't very long and I will try to make the next one longer. Until then I need to get things done. Later days!!!

Life Wasn't Busy Enough

 Well I guess life wasn't busy enough for this girl. I have been setting some things in motion this week. I sent an email about taking my GED classes and will hopefully be doing that very soon. I'm actually excited to go back to school. 

I am getting welcome posts made and everything set up for an event in my Facebook reader group. That has taken some time lol. I have everything almost finished. 

And then there's the new story I  am plotting right now. I have decided to write another story for another anthology. This story will be about... You guessed it... a haunted doll. The anthology is titled Dolls In The Attic. I am super happy to get this one started although it isn't due until July. I am thinking maybe I should write stories about haunted dolls and publish a book of them since I love writing them. 

I also have to edit my story The Seventh Woman and make sure it's ready to send off. It won't take long since it's a shorter story. I am also still working on With Deadly Intent and the first story in my 6 haunted paths series, Echoes of Madness. And another horror story that isn't titled yet. Plus still getting notes together for the book about my hometown. Making those stories longer may be put on the back burner for the time being.

I must be nuts planning to go back to school and still doing all of these writing projects, but hey... We're all mad here, right? As long as I'm having fun that's all that matters. I just have to throw some reading time in the mix and I'm good to go. 

I am planning to post on here every Sunday, unless it's book reviews and then there will most likely be two posts that week. For now I need to get going. Until next time... Later Days!!!!

What Am I Currently Working On?

 Hi everyone! I have been super busy trying to get things done. I am currently working on character profiles and updating the website. I have also been going through stories that were previously in anthologies. Now that I have the rights back to them I have been planning to make some (if not all) of them longer. It has taken time to go through and remember exactly what they were about lol. I know I was supposed to post sooner on here, but have been fighting earaches again. If they aren't better in the next couple of days I will be making a trip to the dr. I'm hoping that doesn't happen since it will be time I have to spend away from home. I won't get anything done sitting in the ER.  (Except maybe some reading)

I have also been working on promo posts for all of my stories that are still published and The Hunt For Amanda. I just got a notebook to keep my notes in for the Four States History book. This way I can keep everything in one place instead of having to go through all these different places to get the information I need. I want it all at my fingertips when I get ready to start writing the book. 

For now it's time to get things done. Until next time... Happy Writing!!!

PS. Here are the first stories I will be making longer.

Book Reviews of 2024 Part 1

 I know I'm a little behind on posting these reviews since I have already written 14 so far. I am going to try to do them once a week or every two weeks so you won't have to check them all out at one time. 

First up is Ghostly Rites Anthology 2023 (this is not for my story in the anthology). I am also planning to review each story/poem individually. 

Another wonderful installment in the Ghostly Rites series of anthologies. I enjoyed all of the stories and poems in this book.

Second we have The Perfect Witness by Katie Mettner. (There will be two more from this series as well.)

Book Two in the Secure One series. This book grabbed my attention from the first sentence and never let up. I loved Cal and Marlise's story! They were wonderful characters and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. With lots of action and twists this book will keep you on your toes!

Next up is Baby Bootcamp by Mallory Kane

A wonderful addition to this series! I loved Matt and Faith's story! Full of action and surprises this is an amazing story!!! The Characters were terrific and the plot kept me intrigued throughout the book. A great book!!!

After that was Resisting The Spark by Elizabella Baker

Oh my goodness! This book was an absolutely perfect addition to the series! I loved everything about this story! Liam and Addison are wonderful characters who fit perfectly with the rest of the group. A terrific story that will leave you wanting more. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

And then it's Hunting Kendra by (you guessed it ;) ) Elizabella Baker

Another excellent story in this series! Kendra and Jaxson are characters you can relate to who have done their best to overcome their past lives. A fast-paced read with lots of surprise twists and plenty of action. I loved everything about this book!

Remembering To Be Thankful by K.D. Hilt. 

A quick read that will leave you wanting to know more about Ryder and Makayla's journey. I enjoyed this story and can't wait to see what happens next.

And now we have On Writing by Stephen King. 

I enjoyed this book so much! Not only is the writing advice helpful, the personal stories were a great touch. I absolutely love this book!!!

Next is a classic from my childhood. Win One For Bumblelion by Mel Gilden. (I always loved The Wuzzles!)

I always loved this cartoon and reading this book brother back a lot of childhood memories. A wonderful story that any kid will love! Win One for Bumblelion teaches you to never give up.

After that I read The Jewel of The Wasted Glades by W.A. Ashes

I loved Jules' story! This is an amazing book!!! Jules, Michael and all the others are terrific characters. I can't to see what happens next!!

Now we have The Comeback Heir by Janice Maynard

This book had me hooked from beginning to end. I loved Wynn and Felicity's story! They were wonderful characters and the story was well-written and I enjoyed reading it.

Another book from the Secure One series by Katie Mettner is The Red River Slayer

Another gripping addition to the Secure One series. I loved Mack and Charlotte! An edge-of your seat thrill ride you won't be able to put down!!

Red Hot Murder was the first book I red by Michelle Pariza Wacek

This was a cozy mystery with a lot of surprise twists. I definitely didn't see that ending coming. I loved Charlie! She was such a wonderful character. The story was amazing and kept me wanting to read even more!

A Place To Hide by Debra Webb is another installment in The Lookout Mountain series.

An excellent addition to this series! I absolutely loved the surprise twists at the end of the story! Grace and Rob are terrific characters and Liam gives the story the perfect tale. A wonderful story that will grab hold and never let up!!

And last, but certainly not least we have Book One in The Secure One series Going Rogue In Red Rye County by Katie Mettner

An amazing start to an amazing series!!! I loved every second of this book! Suspenseful and full of twists that will shock you. Mina and Roman's story is terrific!!!

Until next time... Happy Reading!!!

Writing Update Of The Week

 Hi ya'll! How is everyone doing? Just dropping in to post an update about my writing. I finished writing The Seventh Woman that I will be sending you to an anthology in June. I just have to read through it and make sure everything looks like. Still have plenty of time for that. I have also written more on With Deadly Intent. I am loving how it's turning out. 

I still need to get started on some poetry and more research for my Four States book. It is taking time to go through the group and write everything down. I started that group to get the history of my hometown. I never expected it to grow as much as it has. There have been so many people who have shared stories with me. I have to make sure I have them all in one place lol. 

I have most of the stories for the six haunted paths plotted out and characters named. Just have to start writing them. The first one will be called Echoes of Madness and takes place in an abandoned asylum. I also have a few others to write for anthologies. 

The Hunt For Amanda is fully edited and ready to be published ASAP. Have a few other things to take care of first. I can't wait to get it out in the world. I will always be proud of that story. 

I am planning to do another blog post, probably Friday to get started on those book reviews. I am up to 13 books read out of 100 for my yearly goal. Not too bad so far.  Until next time I need to get something more productive done. Whether that's editing, writing, working on the website, or making teasers, not sure yet. LOL Enjoy your evening and Happy Writing!!!

What Do I have planned for future blog posts?

 What's going to happen with the blog in the upcoming months? I am working on some changes that I hope will keep people interested. I want to start by posting character profiles on here and on my website. I think that would help readers to know more about the characters when they read the books. I will hopefully get that started within the next week or so. I am also going to start author interviews back up. I have a few saved in my email that will be posted first. Then I'll ask more authors if they want to participate? 

I am also thinking about posts from  guest bloggers/other authors who might want to share their stories with us. Of course, I am still going to post book reviews. I definitely need to catch up on that since I have read 10 books already this year.

I have been busy with making promo posts, plotting stories, making covers and teasers, and reading through The Hunt For Amanda and doing edits. And of course reading and writing. I just feel that I need to do more with the blog since I let it go for a while due to life taking over. 

I will be thinking of other things I can post about as well. But for now, it's time to get back to work. Later Days!!!

Getting Back To The Grindstone

 My first blog post for 2024 is a little late in coming due to the ickiness taking over the house. Everyone has been done with one thing or another. Now that things are getting back to normal I have been catching up on things.

My story Twisted Angel was accepted for the Vixens of Horror Anthology. It will be released in March. I have been trying to get some promo posts for it done. 

I am also working on another story for an anthology called Malice. It's my favorite genre to write too, Crime Fiction. The story is called The Seventh Woman. It's not due until June so I still have plenty of time to get it done.

Yesterday was spent doing edits on The Hunt For Amanda and working on a cover for it. I am having fun with that story.

I am also working on With Deadly Intent, book four in The Blakes series. It's coming along great!

What else is on the agenda for my writing life? A clown story for a challenge called Clown Off. A couple of stories for future anthologies still in the plotting stages, 6 stories about haunted paths, poetry in memory of loved ones, and From Annabelle to Four States. (The book about my hometown)

I have also been getting a lot of reading done this week too. Three books in four days isn't bad. (Reviews coming soon)

I am having fun making author logos as well. It's fun to play around with it. I am working on book covers as well. It gives me something else to do with my spare time.

Well I guess I should get back to work lol. Have a wonderful evening and Later Days!!!