Well, That Was Different!

It's been another wild week at the Allison residence...

We had another snowstorm Tuesday night into Wednesday, and although schools were open in my county, I decided to keep our son home to be safe. I had been getting reports from local pals on Facebook about how slippery things were even close to town, and that was the final straw.

Son didn't mind. The laptop is set up in the living room and he has his gaming console as well as portable gaming systems, plus tons of books. He was happy he didn't have to go out in the cold.

This past week saw a major change in things regarding the current manuscript in progress. I was going to try writing on Monday but was stalled in a spot, and couldn't figure out why.

I took a long look at it, and realized I was adding too much flotsam, and was going in a zillion tangents. I talked it over with my best friend and a couple of others, and decided to remove all of the passive areas, or spots where I wasn't focusing on the two mains and their journey.

Close to 6K was removed, over a full chapter. Instead of showing certain things, I only mentioned them briefly, and decided to go with a single two page, 1100 word scene, as well as a quick, three or four paragraph update later on for that particular "line". 

It looks and reads so much better! Yeah, I went from being in the middle of chapter 8 to in Chapter 6, but it's worth losing that much junk to get things right. It's better that I caught it now instead of having a beta reader catch it, right? 

I made up for it... Yesterday was a 3100 word day. I wrote up the "certain things" part, which was a catalyst for a *huge* breakthrough for the mains. The breakthrough scene went a lot easier than the catalyst one - I have my reasons for that, but I'd rather wait to say anything publicly. My beta readers and a few select others know, and they're sworn to secrecy. 

I know exactly how the "aftermath" scene is going to play out, from the POV to everything else. I just have to find the time to write it...

WHOM GODS DESTROY has revealed the cover art for their upcoming album, "FAR REACHES". It is gorgeous! They have also produced a few posters for promotional purposes, and you can enter a draw to win a signed one... Go to the link to their Facebook fan page (listed in my links area to the left of the blog body) and comment on the photo of the poster. Your name is entered. 

Here's what the posters look like. Eli and Tim did an amazing job designing them. 

I love it. 

Another thing that happened was a gorgeous rainbow last night... 

It was fading by the time I snapped this photo but I thought it was a cool shot due to the moon being in it as well. It was a really strong and pretty one, the perfect end to a great day.

Lastly, something arrived in the mail yesterday...

Yes, that is a PAPERBACK copy of STRICKEN! It's available as a print on demand option on the American Amazon, as well as the UK one. 

It is SO PRETTY! I can't stop looking at it! 

Even though I have it in paperback as well as the versions for e-books my publisher puts out, it still hasn't sunk in that I am finally published. It feels like a dream, one that I'm going to wake up from at any time. 

If it is a dream, I hope I never wake up. This one is way too good to lose.

Where you can purchase STRICKEN:

Extasy Books (my amazing publisher!) - ebook formats only.
Amazon.com - Kindle/e-book format, will direct you to your nation's site, and print on demand paperback.

Don't forget, there is an excerpt on my website, www.vjallison.com!

Have an amazing weekend everyone. I leave you with "THE HAUNTED" by WHOM GODS DESTROY. Enjoy!

Promoting, Ice Storms and More...

It's been a wild week. We had not one but *two* ice storms this week - everything was covered in ice for a couple of days, photos to follow - three days worth of power outages, schools canceled for two days in a row, and so many other wacky things happening... I honestly thought I wouldn't get much work done on anything writing or promotional wise this week.

I'm now into the third week of being published, and word has gotten around a little. So far, a few friends of mine have read Stricken, and they loved it. I haven't had any public reviews yet but I'm hoping that will change now that it's out on Amazon.

I'm still going crazy promoting it. In fact, I decided to make some banners for Stricken - something I should have done a month ago. Better late than never I suppose, lesson learned! I've also run a few Facebook ads, and they have really gotten the word out. One ad got over 1500 views, which isn't bad!

Even with everything going crazy, I managed to squeeze in a full day of writing on Friday, and I more than made up for missing work earlier that week. I finished Chapter Seven of the MS in progress, and started Chapter Eight... I'm in the buildup to a *huge* key scene - not a sex scene, but a mammoth breakthrough for the main characters.

I hope to get more written this week. I have maybe six or seven days left before the end of the school year, and I want it done ASAP so I don't have to worry about it over the summer.

I'm happy this one is almost writing itself, when my brain is working.

Here's two of the promotional banners I've created for Stricken. One is a quote from the book.

Banner with quote from Stricken.

Banner for Facebook author page.

Here's a couple of shots from the ice storm. Note how heavy the trees were with it....

I leave y'all with a photo of Amber. She was showing me what she thought of a scene that wasn't exactly well written...

Cats do have a wacky way of showing their humans when they're disgusted, I swear.

Have a great week everyone!

STRICKEN - Get it on Amazon!

Mark this on your calendars everyone:

STRICKEN will be released on Amazons around the world on SUNDAY MARCH 26, 2017! It is now up for preorder on their sites. 

This is it on the CANADIAN Amazon.

The AMERICAN Amazon.

I know it's available in the United Kingdom and Australia as well, but I haven't checked more than those four. If it's not available on your nation's Amazon, it IS up for free international delivery on the Canadian site. The price listed is in our dollar, of course. 

If you preorder now, it will show up in your Kindle, Kindle app, or Kindle compatible app tomorrow morning. Or you can order it whenever you like. 

Thank you eXtasy Books, and everyone I've met there, for giving me this chance. 

Excerpt available on www.vjallison.com!

STRICKEN...

Ewan Campbell once thought he had it all – he was a rising star in the real estate field, popular with his peers, and engaged to his employer’s cousin, the shy and quiet little Marti Marlowe.

A heartbeat later, he was alone – shattered, confused and suicidal. Why had Marti walked away from him?

Years later, in another place, and a new chapter of Ewan’s life, fate brings them face to face again. 

They start building a friendship, but Ewan wants more. He wants Marti as his wife, and she seems to prefer their current status as friends.

Can he convince her that taking another chance at their failed future will be the start of the best part of their lives?

***********

Quick update:

I'm still writing on the new manuscript in progress. So far, it's coming along nicely. I'm almost finished chapter six, and have surpassed the 20K mark. My only complaint is that I'm not getting as much writing time as I'd like - Husband is only working one day shift a week right now. Hopefully that will change soon, I want this one DONE, ASAP! I won't sleep until it's finished, it won't leave me alone. 

"Fugitive Dreams" is still in stasis... I won't look at that until this current WIP is finished and goes into its first stasis cycle. 

Have a great weekend everyone! Don't forget to get a copy of STRICKEN if you haven't already. Thank you! ♥ ♫ 

Much love. 

STRICKEN is Now LIVE on Extasy Books!

Release day has finally arrived!

I am so excited to see my first book, STRICKEN, finally hit the shelves at my publisher, Extasy Books!

It has been one HECK of a long road to get here... Five years from the time I started the first draft of Incarnation #1 to the publish date. Five years of working my tush off with writing, editing, revisions, a full rewrite, two title changes, tons of compressing, and so much other stuff.

Despite a last minute bout of technical difficulties, STRICKEN went live at 4 a.m. my time, or Midnight Pacific Time. 

A myriad of emotions are rolling through me right now... I'm excited because I'm now published, kind of sad to know that Ewan and Marti's story is finally out there, and most of all, so freaking happy it's out there that I'm in tears!

Thank you to everyone at Extasy Books for giving me this amazing opportunity... Y'all rock! 

COVER PHOTO: Done by Syneca Firestone. She is one amazing artist. PLEASE go check her out at Original Syn... She's also a sweet person, I loved working with her. It was an honor to have someone as talented as her do the cover for my first book.

Namaste, and love to all of you!

STRICKEN...

Ewan Campbell once thought he had it all – he was a rising star in the real estate field, popular with his peers, and engaged to his employer’s cousin, the shy and quiet little Marti Marlowe.

A heartbeat later, he was alone – shattered, confused and suicidal. Why had Marti walked away from him?

Years later, in another place, and a new chapter of Ewan’s life, fate brings them face to face again. 

They start building a friendship, but Ewan wants more. He wants Marti as his wife, and she seems to prefer their current status as friends.

Can he convince her that taking another chance at their failed future will be the start of the best part of their lives?

EXCERPT AVAILABLE at WWW.VJALLISON.COM

Cover Reveal: STRICKEN

Here's the gorgeous cover for Stricken, done by Syneca of ORIGINAL SYN Graphic Art and Design. 

I am completely in love with it... To see Ewan and Marti in "real life" finally made me cry. The cover has them depicted almost identically to how I always saw them in my mind. 

Thank you Syneca, and thank you eXtasy Books for having such an amazing digital artist do my first book cover. 

It's gorgeous!!

Don't forget, Stricken is now on preorder at eXtasy Books, and is being released this FRIDAY, MARCH 17th... There is an excerpt from Stricken on my website, www.vjallison.com! Feel free to check it out if you haven't already. 

So excited! 

Setting the Stage...

Happy Monday everyone!

Husband is on vacation right now, and it's March Break in my son's school district. 

I'm currently in "promotional mode", trying to get the word out about Stricken as much as I can before it's finally released on eXtasy Books' site this coming FRIDAY MARCH 17th. 

Excerpt on my website: www.vjallison.com

I'll share the blurb again in a bit. 

WRITING UPDATE:

Friday was a really crazy day writing wise. I went offline before 11 my time and jumped into it. 

The next thing I knew, it was after 3 PM, I had gone nuts pounding on the keyboard, and I had just about finished Chapter 3. I had a 4500 word day in those short hours.

My brain wouldn't stop buzzing though.... It's bad when I consider skipping an episode of MacGyver, the only show I'm watching at the moment. (I adore George Eads!)... I went back on the computer after Son went to bed at 10 PM. This story is not letting go of me. 

I feel like I did when I was writing Stricken's current incarnation. Stunned to the max, including the walking into walls business and being so spaced out that I have to remind myself what I'm doing before I hurt myself. 

I stayed up till 3 AM Saturday morning, and added another 2300 words. I'm in the middle of Chapter 4, just after a huge event for the mains. 

With the little bit I added on Monday, it was a 6K week. Not bad. 

This story is progressing nicely. I can only hope it turns out as good as my best friend thinks it's going to. I'm glad I have most of this one mapped out now. When I first came up with the idea last November, I wasn't sure what route to take with it. Maybe waiting a few months helped me a little.

All I can do now is wait and see how things go. If it turns out to be a good one, and I hope it does, my betas will probably see it sometime in the fall. If I have to do a lot of work on it - editing and revisions - so be it. Stricken wasn't written and polished to a nice shine in less than six months after all, it took me years to get that story up to submission standards...

I haven't set any writing goals for the week, because I'm unsure of what I'll have for writing time, and I'm going to be promoting the daylights out of Stricken between now and next weekend.

I'm still stunned the work on that particular manuscript - now book! - is done, and it's finally going to be seen by the world in four short days. 

My dream of having one book published in my lifetime has been achieved.

Have a fantastic week everyone!

I leave you with the blurb for STRICKEN, available now on preorder at eXtasy Books... Release date is MARCH 17 2017. 

STRICKEN...

Ewan Campbell once thought he had it all – he was a rising star in the real estate field, popular with his peers, and engaged to his employer’s cousin, the shy and quiet little Marti Marlowe.

A heartbeat later, he was alone – shattered, confused and suicidal. Why had Marti walked away from him?

Years later, in another place, and a new chapter of Ewan’s life, fate brings them face to face again. 

They start building a friendship, but Ewan wants more. He wants Marti as his wife, and she seems to prefer their current status as friends.

Can he convince her that taking another chance at their failed future will be the start of the best part of their lives?

Getting Ready!

Eight days to go until Stricken hits the virtual shelves at my publisher, eXtasy Books, on MARCH 17th!!!

Want to read an excerpt? I have one on my website! www.vjallison.com

I'm also going cuckoo promoting Stricken in Facebook, on Twitter and even around my writing forums. The cover has gotten a lot of good reviews, people seem to love it a lot. I've been told that although some of my pals don't read erotic romance as a rule, they're going to read Stricken, because it's my work.

That is a huge compliment in my opinion... I just hope everyone who reads it likes it.... 

WRITING UPDATE: 

Between promoting Stricken, and going nuts in real life with prepping for March Break next week, doctor's appointments, and other health related things for me, I am still writing.

Yes, I have another story on the go. It was started less than a week after Fugitive Dreams (working title) had its first draft finished. This story seemed to grab me by the throat even before I was typed "THE END" in FG.

It was either write it or lose the mind. Since I lost my mind years ago... I'm writing it. lol 

It's going pretty well at the moment. I'm into Chapter 2 already and I'm hoping to get that done before the end of the month. I've been squeezing in as much writing time on it as I can, between Husband's shifts and everything else. I have tomorrow left before March Break starts but Husband said that he and Son will be disappearing at least one day next week so I can work. 

That is the greatest gift they can give me when they know I'm deep into a story. I love it when Husband does that. Ever since I finished the original incarnation of this story a couple of years ago, he's clued in that I *am* serious about writing and being published, and has been my rock through all of the upsets from rejections, to the last while when I was going crazy with talking to the gang at eXtasy Books trying to get Stricken up to their high standards for published works.

I would love to have this one's first draft finished by the time school gets out in June, that way I'm not hanging over the summer again. That way it can "perk" all summer long, while I talk to the Betas about Fugitive Dreams, and see if it's up to eXtasy's standards. If not, it'll be classed as a "practice" story, to get my feet wet again after a long break, and set aside. I won't delete it, that's not my way. I keep everything I write, even the horrid stuff. Call me a "story hoarder" if you want. lol 

As for other projects, I have plenty of ideas. I just have to see which one grabs me first after this WIP is finished. 

Other than that, not much happening in my end of the world. Still no word from WHOM GODS DESTROY on when "Far Reaches" is going to be released, nor is there word on when their first gig of 2017 is happening. I'll keep y'all posted. 

I leave you with a photo of some potted tulips one of my longtime pals, Anna H., gave me as a congratulatory gift for getting published. They're not quite open yet, and are supposed to be a really, really dark purple when they fully bloom... I'm fanatical about purple, it's my favorite color next to black, and I wear both together a lot. 

They are so pretty!

Have a lovely weekend everyone! 

Nearing THE END... Of Draft One

It's true folks.

I'm almost done another rough draft. 

Now this story is about as messy as it can get - think nuclear bomb going off in the middle of an ink factory messy. There's a lot of wordy areas, and spots where I need to make it less choppy - it needs to flow a little better.

Work on a manuscript does *not* stop when one types "THE END" after all. It's a constant process to get it refined... From the wording, to the way the story itself flows, and everything else has to be tweaked to as close as perfect as you can get it before your betas even get a whiff of it. 

I have at least two betas from another project lined up for this one already. When asked, both Peapod and a sweet lady I met in one of my old Creed haunts jumped at the chance to help me with this one too. So proud to have them both on the Beta Team, they're like family to me.

I'm down another chapter, and today, I wrote the anticlimax. It was tough to do considering everything, but it's done. 

I'm now mulling over how to arrange the lead in to the grand finale. I already know what's going to happen then, so I'm okay. 

I do have a working title for it, for the record. I wound up figuring one out the day after I wrote up the previous entry about hating coming up with even a working title. So far it's liked by my Facebook pals. Peapod thinks it's awesome and more catchy than the original one I had planned. 

Hopefully I'll be able to type "THE END" into that next week or the week after, and put it in stasis while I go through my ideas list and see which one hooks me next.

*****************

I'm also seeing a chapter end in my life. One that's been going on for a few years.

I'm finally saying "THE END" to work on one of my stories, for good.

You see, I finally found a publisher, one that's giving this little unknown a chance.

My first book is coming out later this year.

I've been going nuts working with the editors at my publisher trying to get this story perfected - from the editing to the proofing and even getting things just so with the way things line up for chapter breaks and so on.

I have also seen the cover proof for it. It's GORGEOUS! The artist who did it pretty much depicts how I pictured the leads since day one. (I cried when I saw it, it's so pretty, and I can't stop looking at it!)

I am seriously in love with that cover. *happy sigh!* 

I can't say much else right now. I will post things when I'm given the okay to share everything. I promise!

Not hard to tell I'm excited, huh? *looks innocent* 

Have a great weekend, folks. I leave you with my favorite Disturbed song... "STRICKEN". 

Brainstorming...

I hate choosing a title for a story. 

I never seem to choose one that suits the story and has a lot of punch at the same time. My title choices tend to be boring, really boring.

Hearts Remembering. Yeah, it says what the story is about but it doesn't have pizzazz in my opinion. I'm so glad I changed it at the last minute, it did turn out to be *gold* after all. (Long story!)

In case anyone's wondering, I'm trying to think of a one or two word title for the current WIP, one with a lot of punch yet gives a hint to what the story is about - a modern day romance. 

So far a number of ideas have gone through my mind, but none really suit the story, the characters or me, and some of them are already in use.

I was thinking "Smitten" but Husband and Peapod both said it's too close to my upcoming book's title, Stricken. So that idea is out, for now at least.

I put things out there for my Facebook friends to help me brainstorm, after a short rant about how much I hate settling on a title, especially one that feels blah. Maybe with a little luck, talking things out with them will result in a good idea. 

It did when I was trying to come up with a good, solid name for the leading man in Stricken years ago. Lightening may strike again, in a different area.

One can hope at least. 

Anyway, I did manage to get some work done on the WIP, the one I'm trying to find a title for. Thursday was it, and it was only 2 hours of work time before the bus arrived.

It was still productive, a 2200 word day. I managed to wrap up a chapter and put in a huge key scene, along with finish two smaller ones. I was so deep into it that I even wrote after Son was home from school, a rarity considering how noisy he is when he's home. I wanted that scene *done* dang it, so I could continue on in a fresh chapter and scene next week.

I'm pretty close to 3/4 of the way finished this one's rough draft, or possibly more. I'm almost at the anti climax so that's good, I think. 

Who knows, I may actually get this one done before my deadline of March 10th. The rate I'm going it's quite possible. 

Have a lovely weekend everyone. I'm hoping to get more done this week, and I'll update when I can. 

Once again, I leave you with a photo of Amber from Thursday, doing her "Writing Su-purr-visor Impreshun". Silly furball. LOL 

Production, At Last!

Back to school, and back to writing.

Or so I thought. 

Last week, I had two writing days... Thursday and Friday. Thursday, things went a little cuckoo with my lifelong condition in the morning again (like it has been for the last couple of weeks), so I decided to start narrowing things down to see what was causing it.

I changed up my routine a little by changing some of the things I eat in the mornings. That didn't work. Since I feel icky and don't want to write when things are going crazy with it, I decided to take the day off from writing and do something I should be doing at least twice a week anyway.

I zipped up to the local Lifestyle Centre, and used their walking track, which is around the top part of the ice arena, above the seats. Four laps of 250 metres each, or a full kilometre, and about 10 minutes. I wasn't even going that fast, and I still made great time. I wasn't happy with myself because I had forgotten the ear buds for my phone (I have all of my music on there for walking, etc), but it wasn't that bad. They have music playing there for all of the areas - arena, cafe, upstairs conference rooms and yoga studios, and of course, the indoor pool. It was mostly pop music out of the 1980s, but it was still a lot better than it could have been.... Even if it wasn't Disturbed, Creed or Whom Gods Destroy.

Things with the condition were evening out by that time, so I decided to pick up a few more things to help it... Fresh and frozen veggies, some cream for the coffee over milk (I use less, so I don't get as many carbs or sugars in the cream), whole grain crackers, and so on. 

By the time I stopped in to say hi to Husband at his workplace, I was tired but feeling a lot better. His boss was there, and she and I talked about some awesome news that happened to me last year - some of you know about it, but until things are confirmed with dates, etc, I'd rather not share it here... I will share when I can, I promise! She's really excited for me, and can't wait for things to really start. I'm too tired and busy writing to be excited right now. I'll save that for when things really take off. 

Friday was much better. Despite things still going crazy with the lifelong condition, I knuckled down and opened TEN. My goal for this week was 1500 words. I got 2252 in only 3 hours, and had a lot happen between the mains. 

Not bad considering things are still acting up... Although I am pretty sure I have figured out what's going on... Tomorrow I'll be trying something new and keeping everything else the same. If the condition goes crazy even with the switch, that wasn't it... If not, I was right, as weird as it sounds. 

I have a few writing days coming up, and if possible, I'd like for this one's first draft finished and in stasis before March Break rolls around. That's two months away. I've written a full first draft in less time, surely I can finish a partially written one.............

I hope all of you have a fantastic week!

I leave you with a quote from "Whom Gods Destroy" by Whom Gods Destroy off of their 2011 album, Signs of Life (used with permission from the band):

"Inside, you've got it all
But fear can cheat the brave
And destroy your heart and soul
To believe gives endless power
The darkness of the mind
The spell that binds

So tip the scales, but understand
Whom gods destroy, they first make mad
An angel's face, the devil's hand
Whom gods destroy, they first make mad."

~Copyright 2011, Whom Gods Destroy

(Mad as in "insane" for the record!) 

Tis the Season....

Good tidings, everyone!

The solstice has come and gone, and we are now going to see the sun move in a northward direction, meaning our days in the Northern Hemisphere are getting a touch longer, and the nights are getting a little shorter. 

I hope all who celebrate Yule had a peaceful and safe day. 

My Yule had an unexpected gift - One last writing day before Winter Break. Husband got scheduled to work the opening shift, and it was Son's last day of school before the holidays. I dived into Word as soon as I guessed I had consumed enough coffee to be alert.

I've been thinking about the manuscript code named "TEN" again. I hate the seesawing back and forth between the original way and the alternate way, and I'm so frustrated with myself for being indecisive. So I made up my mind.

I'm doing it the original way I had planned when I came up with the idea in 2014. I'm going to finish the manuscript's first draft come hell or high water, and even if it kills me... I hope it doesn't! If my betas don't like it or say it doesn't work, it's going into the "rewrite" pile along with the original version of "Fourteen". 

I really hate rewriting a manuscript halfway through the first draft. Call it laziness if you want, but sometimes we have to write something that's not good to produce gold in the end product. Sometimes I do better doing a rewrite, instead of having the original idea drafted out. That's been proven already. Ask my Beta Team. They'll tell you. Not the full story on the manuscript in question, but they will tell you its current incarnation is a huge improvement from the original version. 

That's another story for another time. I'll talk about things when I'm ready and able to on here. It's all good. No worries. ;) 

The end result was 2450 words added, three scenes worth, and a major event happening between the mains. It's rough and needs a lot of polishing - one of my more recent jokes is that my rough drafts look like a nuclear bomb went off in the middle of an ink factory - but the gist of it is there, and I think it's working for the most part. That may change after the Betas get their paws on it though. 

I won't be working on much writing wise until after January 3rd, 2017, when Son returns to school. Those late night writing sessions always seem to mean "REWRITES" for me, so I'm just going to take the next while off and relax with my family, and of course, keep the prank war going with my best pal in Facebook. I'm a dead girl walking. Oh well. It's worth making her laugh. *looks innocent* 

Husband has the entire weekend off...  For the first time in five years, he isn't working till 9 PM on the 24th. It's going to be great to have him home and eat supper at the normal time for a change that day. Son and I are normally up watching Santa zip around the world on NORAD's site while we wait for Husband to get home that night. We're probably going to be keeping track again, but not as much. It's still going to be a great holiday. Just being together is a great present in itself.

My holiday wish came early this year... We saw "Rouge One" in the theater Saturday night, and it was *awesome*!!!! I'm so glad they are keeping the feel of the original trilogy, as well as the story lines perfectly lined up. This movie felt like it had been filmed before "A New Hope", because it lines up perfectly with the beginning to that movie. If you love Star Wars - I do, I'm a huge SW geek! - you will love this movie. It answers a lot of questions about how things came to be at the start of "A New Hope". Don't miss it. 

Seeing it in 3D did make my occipital neuralgia go nuts, but that's normal... That gets agitated at the stupidest things I swear.

Anyway, I wish all of you an amazing holiday, whatever you celebrate... Keep rocking everyone. Namaste and all the best. 

Fair Weather

Happy birthday to my brother in law A, who turns... Well, he's in my age group, and I'd rather not out how old he really is. 

Six years ago today, I was at the casino in Halifax, watching the lead singer of #Creed - and recently, #The Art of Anarchy - Scott Stapp perform his first concert in Nova Scotia. It was one of the most amazing times in my life up to that point, and I had a great time even though I went to the concert alone. Seeing him perform in person is so much better than watching him on video. He is extremely charismatic, and really pulls one into the music, and the lyrics.

I know I've posted this photo before, but I want to share it again... 

One amazing photo of a man with a beautiful voice in my opinion.

Yesterday's weather may not have been fair - we had heavy rain, which I hope means the end of the drought we had over the summer - but we had a blast at my son's school's annual fall bazaar, which is one of the school's biggest fundraisers next to their walk a thon.

Husband was working again so as tradition states, I took Son to it. 

How it works: It's free to attend, but one has to buy tickets to do the activities. It costs so much for a book of tickets, and most of the activities are for kids junior high aged and younger. For example, there was face painting for the younger kids, an obstacle course, a sucker pull, and one of Son's favorites, bowling. Each time a child completed an activity, they got a prize - a piece of candy, a toy, or something age appropriate like pencils for the kids in primary and up. "Adopting" a stuffed animal cost 2 tickets, while a lot of the activities that were set up in the gym cost only 1 ticket. 

Son and I had 8 books of 10 tickets each. Maybe we went too crazy, or I didn't bring a big enough bag into the school, because we were not even halfway through the books and the bag I took in was almost full. 

Son's red sweater and my stuffed dog named Mortimer are on the top, otherwise it's filled with Son's loot, and we were not done yet at that point!!!

Here's a better picture of Mortimer, posing on top of my computer monitor. 

Yes I like a bare bones approach to my computer area, the three files I have on the desktop itself are hidden behind Mortimer's head.

I think Son has enough candy to last him until the holidays. Holy moley, he made out like a bandit, as always. 

After the fair, we went to my mother in law's house for a while. The one cat, Patty (aka Fatty Cakes) always follows me around the house when I'm there, because I have "THE RED DOT" and she loves to chase it (laser pointer). When she's not chasing that, she's looking for me to pet her, and since I can't resist her and she knows it, she gets tons of love from me. 

She did do something naughty....

Yeah, she parked her chubby caboose next to the television while Son was watching a movie. She was also doing her "Ailwien Kitteh" impression, silly girl. I can't resist such a cutie pie!

Speaking of the in law's, no mention of the exact release date of Whom Gods Destroy's upcoming album, "Far Reaches". I'll update all of you when I know. 

The writing is coming along, and I've done something I shouldn't do until after I get Ten, Thirteen and Fourteen finished... I started a new story. It's the rewrite of one I started a few years ago, and I'd like to bring it up to modern times, as well as strip it back to the bare bones. It was another one of the ultra complicated stories I used to write before I learned that simple is best for an unknown like me. I'm really grateful I learned it when I did... I wouldn't have written other stories if I hadn't.

I do have the character profiles started, and I know exactly what I want to use as the ending, down to the last line, which is odd for me. Most of the time, I know it's going to be a "Happy Ever After" or "Happy for Now" ending but not *exactly* how to wrap it up. 

What story it is, and what's going to happen in it is currently between me, my computer and my best friend, who is the only one that knows exactly what's going on with this rewrite - IF I can pull it off.

I hope I can. I want to get back into writing soon. I'm starting to chomp on the monitor in frustration again....... 

I've also been considering things in a draft I finished back in 2014... There is a scene in it that doesn't feel like it belongs in the story. It was influenced by some of my previous works, and doesn't move the story at all, it's just sitting there like a bump on a log. I'm now looking at how I can revise that section, or remove it and work the rest of the story around it. 

My health is slowly improving too. I'm not feeling as icky as I was a month ago, I'm feeling more clear headed and I'm not wearing out as fast as I was this past summer. I think my iron levels are evening out finally, and I will know either way in a few weeks, when I get my ferratin levels checked. I hope I can say good bye to the iron supplements, and replace them with a multivitamin containing extra iron. 

Being anemic stinks, big time.

At least I'm alive and breathing. I remind myself of that every day, because I see so many people dying way too young. 

A pal that I met online passed away last week, and it was a huge blow. He was a kind, big hearted and fun person, and knowing he will no longer be asking me if I found a publisher yet, or laughing at my cat's silly antics (she dive bombed me recently and scared the dickens out of me!) really makes me sad. I'm going to miss seeing him, a lot, and I hope that he's finally at peace on the other side of the veil.

This one's for you Jonathan. Soar with eagles, my friend. 

"Higher Planes" by Whom Gods Destroy, from their 2007 Demo CD.

See y'all next time. Keep rocking, everyone. 

School Returns, Art Fun and More....

Holy smokes, to be blunt. 

What a crazy month it's been! I've barely found the time to sit down and actually think, let alone update my blog or do much of anything else.

The school year has finally started, and Son has been loving his new classroom, new teachers and new TAs. He has reconnected with a friend from Preschool that attended the other feeder school that also ends at grade 5, and they are very close. We even saw her and her family (her mom and I have remained pals all through the years) at the Afterglow Art Festival this past weekend, and it was great to see all of them. 

Son has been sick on and off. He had a cold the second week of school that knocked him flat and he has a lingering cough from it. He was so bad this week that he didn't feel like doing math. Yeah, that's *bad*.... He's on medication for it now, thanks to a fast trip to our amazing family doctor, and he's not coughing as much. He's only been on this medicine for two days. It's powerful stuff. Thank heavens. When he is at school, he's doing wonderfully, and has transitioned quite well at the moment. He literally blew away his new math teacher by showing off how fast his mind is when he's doing mental math... It was freaking awesome to hear that. His math skills are a lot higher than Grade 6... More like borderline senior high already. Well, he comes by that honestly, considering my brother and myself are both strong in mathematics, and both of us were well ahead of our peers in a lot of things math related too, even all through high school.

 AFTERGLOW ART FESTIVAL

Saturday September 24, 2016 was the fifth annual Afterglow Art Festival in Bridgewater, NS, and of course we went to it. 

Talk about FUN!!! We watched our longtime friend (and Son's favorite artist) create a few new spray paint pieces right in front of us (we purchased 2 more of his works that night!), saw a lot of people we knew including a number of Son's friends from school, lots of amazing art, and plenty of awesome street performers. I also had some amazing Thai style chicken curry, it was out of this world yummy. I hope that booth is there again next year... 

WRITING UPDATE:

I've been at work trying to get character descriptions updated and figure out a few things related to the companion story for one of my finished manuscripts... So far, it's slow going but it IS going for now.

I've also played around with things in regards to the one manuscript... Just what, only a few people know right now, but I will say what it was publicly in time. I know exactly when I'll say so, if that ever happens. 

Got you wondering, haven't I? *looks innocent* 

It's a good thing, so no worries on that. My best friend and a few other pals who know what's going on loved the idea. 

I'm also trying to get up to date on what publishers accept what and who doesn't require an author having an agent. I think I found a few that will fit either story, and may even take both... Tee hee..... *tries to hide the horns with a tarnished halo* 

One rejection at a time... And hopefully I'll be able to scream "ACCEPTED AND CONTRACT SIGNED!!" sometime in the future, preferably the near one... 

I leave you with some photos from AFTERGLOW... Have a great weekend everyone!

In our driveway, all ready to go...

Kyle O making magic with spray paint.

Fire dancers on the parkade.

A musical act on the bandstand's gazebo.

A view of the Lahave River and more art fun.

Facing northwards on King Street, toward the Veteran's Memorial Bridge.

One of the many uber talented acts playing that night, shadow puppetry and music. An awesome show.

Kyle O making more magic with his paints.

An interactive video game next to Kyle O's booth.

Having a blast at the festival!