Moving Along

Good afternoon everyone. I hope all of you are doing wonderfully. 

YES, the rumor is TRUE.

I am in the middle of writing a series!! *Happy dance!*

The MSIP is Book 2 of it, and I've started the preliminary work for Book 3. What the name is, what's the first book in it, and everything else is between myself, my fellow eXtasy Books and Devine Destinies authors, and a few select friends (authors and trusted friends). I have a name for the series too, but like the name of the MSIP, that is Top Secret until I decide to let the Maine Coon out of the bag (figuratively speaking). 

I worked on Book 2/MSIP last Thursday in between things... I didn't get a lot actually written, but I added just enough to be able to splice in a bunch of scenes I had written back in January. It's a huge revelation for the mains, and it wasn't an easy part to write. 

Book 2 went from just over 6K to over 11k with one copy/paste. I may remove the final scene of what I added, because it isn't working at this point in time. I may take it out and put it back in later on in the story. It feels passive at this point, and may not even go back in.

Detailed updates regarding the series and "Something About Alexis" are in my Facebook group, "Romancing the Maritimes". You HAVE to be a member to get the updates about this and the inside scoop on what's going on with my first series and everything else related to my writing, including an occasional excerpt! My beloved fans should get preferential treatment, after all! ;)

Things are going great with the healthy lifestyle. I haven't been up to going to the track - migraines and neuralgia flare ups - but I'm still walking, up and down the stairs here, and if I run errands, I do a few laps around the store to make up for not going to the LCLC. I haven't had any junk food in over 6 weeks, and I'm feeling great! My jeans and rings are really starting to get loose now. Woo-hoo!!!

That's all for now. I'll update as things progress. Have a great week everyone!

I leave you with my favorite Warrant song, "Heaven". Jani Lane had such a beautiful voice... Gone too soon.

Cooking!

Yes, I have been cooking lately, healthier things for myself. I really went off course with eating right over the holidays, so I decided to stick to a very strict regime of eating right and no junk food, not even in moderation. Whole grains, no more than 50 carbs per meal, 10 carbs in a snack, lots of liquids - coffee does count as a liquid, right? - and no added sugar, sugar alcohols or anything that may up the glucose or the A1C glucose. Very little processed foods, they have a lot of added sugars, salt, and other things that will mess with a person's system. Whole foods are best. I work from home, so I can take the extra time to prepare healthy meals, and if I can purchase locally grown and raised foods, I will. 

I'm 12 days in to it, and I'm feeling a lot better. My mind is much clearer, and although I would love a bowl of my favorite cheese chips once in a while, I can't do it. It's either all or nothing. I admit I will treat myself to a diabetic friendly dessert once in a while - I have a few amazing recipes thanks to various diabetes sites and friends who do low carb! - or even a mug of sugar free hot chocolate (cocoa, milk, sweetener and real cream), but nothing that will make my glucose or weight go skyward. 

THANK YOU to my husband... Although he is still purchasing junk food for himself, he is buying stuff I do NOT like, which means I will not want any. Brilliant on his part. I didn't even ask him to do it. He's a wonderful man, I'm so lucky to be his wife...

It's been so cold the last few days, so I'm not walking outside at the moment. The cold and the wind make my trigeminal neuralgia go bonkers, which means I'm in constant agony while outside. I've been using the stairs in our house as an exercise machine. Walking up and down them a few times in a row burns a few calories, and helps my body's endurance. They're there, they are free to use, and I can do it at any time of day or night. Why not? Plus, I haven't felt like going to the track, which I should be doing too... So the stairs is a good compromise.

Writing wise, there's been a few changes...

Work on "Something About Alexis" is done until further notice. For the time being, I will not be posting public updates. For updates on it, you must join ROMANCING THE MARITIMES. 

Work on the unnamed MSIP continues. I've hit a few snags, but I'm hoping to get this latest one untangled soon. I have an idea of where to go with it, thanks to my longtime pal and fellow eXtasy Author, Maggie Blackbird, so with a little luck, I'll be zipping along in that one in no time. 

That's all for now... I leave you with "Right Through You" by Alanis Morissette.  

"You scan the credits for your name, and wonder why it's not there..."

Have a great day everyone!

Happy 2019!

Happy New Year everyone!

2018 saw a lot of changes in my life, and except for the last three months of it, it was a rough year.

Marnie says "2018 can kiss my fluffy grey pantaloons, Mama!", which sums up how I felt about most of the year.

We all know the horrible things that happened last year in my end of the world, so I'm not going to rehash it. I am still crying over Amber's passing, a lot. She left a huge hole behind, one that Marnie is helping to heal.

2019 is starting off with a bang... A huge one! I am still working on the four projects I've mentioned in other blogs - an unnamed MSIP, a short story, revising a finished draft, and getting "Something About Alexis" ready for submission - and they are priority unless something comes up. Lewen has joined the team of beta readers, which is greatly appreciated. 

I have gotten the first round of critiques for "Something About Alexis" from Sara, and it's not as bad as I thought it would be. A few typos here and there, and a small plot hole that can easily be fixed. I gave everyone the deadline of January 30th to get back to me, so I have a couple of weeks to wait on that one. 

Last night, I did something spontaneous... I started a Facebook Group attached to my author page!

It's called "Romancing the Maritimes", and although it's brand new, I'm starting to get a few people interested in it. Certain things like early excerpts from works in progress, the first sneak peeks at upcoming releases and a few draws will be EXCLUSIVE to members.

You can find Romancing the Maritmes HERE... Thank you for joining everyone! ♥
My goals for 2019 include:

WRITING:

1. Submit "Something About Alexis", and if I'm lucky, see it published.
2. Finish the unnamed MSIP.
3. Finish the short story.
4. Start a new story.

PERSONAL:

1. Get back to the track on a regular basis, and go swimming once in a while at the Lifestyle Centre.
2. Lower my A1C hemoglobin glucose.
3. Remind myself that it is okay to reject toxic people, no matter who is demanding I talk to them.
4. Avoid drama at all costs - it makes my neuralgia flare up, and knocks me off the writing mojo.
5. Stay positive!

Thanks again for sticking with me everyone... Have a fantastic 2019!