Happy 153rd Birthday, CANADA!!!

Happy Canada Day everyone!

Today is Canada’s 153^rd birthday, and I’m ultra happy!

We have one month to go until the Together We Stand anthology hits the shelves, and I cannot wait to get my copy of it! There are so many talented people in it, from best-selling authors C.A. King and Geri Glenn, to newcomer K. Logan, my dear friend and fellow eXtasy Books author Cameron Allie, and of course, yours truly!

Coming August 1^st, 2020…

Preorder Graphic including participating authors.

 Preorder Link! https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B089QVH82F/

My contribution is a sweet romance called COVID’s Arrow and it’s about two grocery store cashiers during a pandemic. Check out the blurb and the poster I made for it!

Banner ©2020 V.J. Allison
Original Photo taken by V.J. Allison
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada
Old Bridge and LaHave River

COVID’s Arrow

By V.J. Allison

© 2020 V.J. Allison, all rights reserved

Tagline: When two people are in love, social distancing cannot prevent them from being together.

Vicki has been half in love with her friend and co-worker, Mason, since she started working at a grocery store eight months ago. When a pandemic reaches the province, social distancing protocols are installed, and their friendship is put on hold. A break at work brings them back together, but will they have the time Vicki hopes to pursue her hidden desires?

I wrote the entire story in three hours on June 1^st, and it was submitted on the weekend of June 5^th.

* * * *

(Hopefully!) Coming Soon from eXtasy Books…

I’m not just excited to be a part of the Together We Stand anthology… You see, I’m also going to be a part of the Stocking Stuffer (short story line) for the 2020 Holiday Season. This past weekend, I wrote an 11K long story that I hope to submit sometime next week. Why so early? The general publishing process at eXtasy Books and Devine Destinies is about four months long. So to have them publish a Christmas or Holiday story, things have to be submitted no later than August – preferably in July. It gives the editors and authors time to get it edited and revised right, and if each one has a unique cover, the Art Department plenty of time to make an awesome, eye catching design for it.

In fact, one of my fellow eX authors has her contribution submitted already, and a lot of us are prepping for our Valentine’s Day submissions now.

When you are an author who works with a publisher like eXtasy Books, you have to think of holidays coming about six months ahead of the game. It’s just the way the publishing world works, I guess.

As for the name of my short, and everything else… I’m not saying it yet. It’s still being read by my betas (although one has read it already and loved it!) and y’all know how closed mouthed I can be when it comes to my work that’s not submitted or even accepted by my publisher yet. I’d rather not risk jinxing anything, you know?

I will say this: It is revisiting one of my previously published couples, an extension of their story.

Other than that, mum’s the word. Only a scant few people know what’s going on… And it was applauded by one of my best pals at eXtasy Books (one of my best pals, period!) So if you’re in that handful, smile.

To my fellow Canucks: Have a happy and safe Canada Day!

To my American fans, friends, family, and followers: Have an amazing and safe Fourth of July weekend!

I leave you with one of my favorite songs of all time… “Closer to the Heart” by RUSH and the late great Neil Peart.

Sesquicentennial

HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY, CANADA!

(Bonne Fete, Canada!)

Sesquicentennial means 150th anniversary. Since my beloved nation is 150 years young today, I thought it would work as a blog title.

Things have been hectic with the end of the school year and just life in general. 

Son's last day of school was yesterday, and I didn't know that they had an awards ceremony for students in grades 5 through 8 who excelled in academics and sports during the closing. 

I only found out when Son's grade six teacher called me and invited me to attend.

You see, my son got an award yesterday, Greatest Improvement Overall for his class. He, along with a few of his pals from grades six, seven and eight, got the awards because they went from struggling to doing an amazing job in their studies. 

When Son's name was called, he didn't walk to the stage like every other student - he RAN! He was so excited that he was jumping up and down and hugging a lot of his fellow winners. 

He won a medal with the school emblem on it. It is gorgeous, and it'll be hanging in his room over his bed when we get around to putting it there. 

I'm really proud of him. His grade six teacher said he's a brilliant kid, he just needs a little guidance and a reminder now and then... He was also a joy to teach and have in her classroom this year. 

I've learned that exams are only given to Grades 8s, 10s, and 12s... So he's safe for another year! (THANK HEAVENS!)

He's now home for the summer, and we're making plans to do a few things. He wants to go swimming at the lifestyle centre, play video games at home, as well as go bowling in town, and take the occasional day trip.

I am still going to the track, but not as frequently as I would like. Son doesn't like the walking bit of it, so it's best I go without him. I am getting faster at doing a km, and I've even upped the laps to five (1250 m) a few times. I'm slowly getting more and more used to it. 

I'm not as heavy as I thought... I was weighed during an appointment with the centre that helps people who have that lifelong condition and I'm about 30 pounds less than expected. I still have a long way to go, but the amount I want to lose seems reasonable right now... It's a lot but it IS possible!

As for the writing, I'm not going to write at all this summer. I've decided that I have to clean up Dream On before I go near Fourteen and its rounds of cleaning, then start writing it again. I'm thinking a full rewrite may be needed. 

I don't know, I'll just have to see how I feel in September, or when Dream On is finally in the hands of my beta team. 

I may not post a lot over the next few weeks - real life and summertime fun with my family will probably dominate July anyway, if not August.

I wish all of you an amazing summer... Don't forget to wear sunblock if you're going outside a lot!

In the spirit of the day, I leave you with a song by one of my favorite Canadian bands, RUSH.... CLOSER TO THE HEART.

"God Invented Days Like This for Drinkin'"....

HAPPY 149th BIRTHDAY CANADA!!!

Credit: FirstCovers.com

July 1, 1867: Under Her Royal Majesty, Queen Victoria, taken from the British North American Act...

"We do ordain, declare, and command that on and after the First day of July, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-seven, the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, shall form and be One Dominion, under the name of Canada."

Henceforth, my gorgeous nation was born, and my amazing province of NOVA SCOTIA was one of the original four provinces.

Yes, I love my nation, and I'm proud to be Canadian!

Since summer is now official going, a quick update about Son...

He has graduated into Junior High school (Grade 6 on his campus) with ALL As and Bs, including an A in his most hated subject, French.

I kid y'all not. An A in FRENCH of all subjects.

Baffling, eh? LOL 

I think my best pal fainted when she read that in Facebook the other day!

He had a fantastic last day of elementary school. He played with his friends, raised hell with his classmates and was awarded "Classroom Greeter" award for his sunshine every morning.

It was made even more bittersweet knowing he wasn't the only one moving on.

His old resource teacher, Mr. R, is leaving the school.. Moving upwards in the system. Mr. R has been promoted to Principal of my old elementary school. 

The students at PRCE are VERY lucky. Mr. R is a fantastic teacher, and a really nice guy all around. They are going to thrive with him as Principal.

As sad as seeing him leave the campus was, maybe it's best if he's not there. Son won't look for him as much, and will probably have an easier time adjusting to the new building with NEW teachers, and of course, a new Resource Teacher. 

We're gearing up for the start of school even though Summer Vacation has barely started... 11 weeks can go by so damn fast. Thank heavens we already have a good chunk of his school supply list purchased already - leftovers from Grade 5. LOL

Plans include visiting my mother in law, hopefully seeing my mother a few times, hanging out with Hubby's brothers and Tim (at live music shows and other places), trips to our favorite beach, day trips to our favorite spots in the western half of the province, and other fun things.

I can't remember if I posted this on the blog or not for my readers, but here's something to make you laugh... Hubby was changing the litterbox last week and she kept making dives for the door. Amber wasn't impressed when I held her on her back with her paws up in the air and her tummy exposed for KISSES!!! She looked so disgusted I *had* to grab my phone and snap a photo of it! 

Who's a PO'ed puddy tat?? LOL Hope it made you smile!

I leave y'all with the FIRST OFFICIAL VIDEO from local classic metal band WHOM GODS DESTROY, the hard rock version of their country song, "God Invented Days Like This For Drinkin'"... A perfect anthem for those hot, long summer weekends. Enjoy!!!!!

Have a fun and safe LONG WEEKEND EVERYONE! Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians, and Happy 4th of July to my American friends and family! (I am part American for the record, my great grandmother was born in BOSTON of all the places!)...