Complicated Joys

I finally set up my Author Website today. It took some doing just for the simplest of sites. As of lately I have been caught up in taking care of my little ducks (aka my kiddos), writing fairy tales for Fiction Vortex. If you haven't visited their sight you should, it has free reads of various genres, and I've been baking. Yup, making rolls. Super yum. At least my daughter thinks so. I made nine rolls last night and she ate seven of them. This is crazy for my daughter who rarely eats that much.
My book Apocalypse: Usifrim is up on Amazon. I guess I was expecting a big to do about it, but somehow it hasn't gotten the attention it deserves. I will say it is hard to promote your work while shaping the future of the human race. I'm not complaining, just talking. I know I am a mother and that is a HUGE job full of micro-jobs that I am certainly not qualified for, and sometimes being a mother is daunting to say the least, but it is extremely rewarding. Not so much with the amount of #2 I am dealing with as my son is potty training, but still rewarding. I love my crazies. They give my life meaning and bring me the most complex forms of joy. Like sending them off to their first day of school and thinking to yourself, "I'm so old. They are growing too fast." Yes I am glad my kids are alive and growing and going to learn. Though the pain of them leaving me is heart rending.
Okay, before I go I would like to share a little tidbit of fun to come... my story for fiction vortex is nearly ready for all your reads.

It had been days since Sylvia ran out of the Bounty Feast Ball. Her hurt feelings an obvious testament to her lack of control. She hated the dark haired, strangely alluring man who pitched her worst fears in her face. Even now Sylvia seethed about his arrogant judgement of her. She was the future High Queen.

With a fatal snip one of her beloved red rose blooms fell to the ground. “Oh.” Sylvia whimpered as she picked up the flower. “Forgive me.” She spoke softly to her plants, “I am out of sorts. Despite the time passed that fellow’s words ring in my head. I know it is no excuse. I should be more careful of your fragile state.” Gently she raised the blossom to her lips and kissed it softly.

“Why do you morn a loss that need not be?” The High Queen came up behind her granddaughter, taking the flower carefully she placed it back on the stem. With a whisper of words and a soft breath blown over the petals, the rose was restored. “Sylvia, I worry about your devotion to trivial things.”

“They are only trivial to others.”

“Your appreciation of life is admirable. If only I could get that trait to extend past the boundaries of this little haven you’ve created.” The High Queen looked out upon the autumn landscape. “It may not look pleasant or appealing to you now, but there is life outside the castle that is worth every bit of your devotion.”

“You didn’t just come here to talk of slumbering life. What is your true purpose?”

“The Elders and I have decided on your first challenge to determine your worthiness for the throne.” The Queen waited for a response. Her granddaughter continued to prune and water her wild roses. “Are you not interested?”

“I only assumed you would continue to speak of my task.”

Sighing the Queen picked up a watering container. She sprinkled a healthy bush of white roses as she spoke. “As you know, the High Queen is Queen to all the Fairy realms. She is all powerful in magic and wisdom. With the Elders as her counsel, the Queen must be able to make life altering decisions for all in her care. Such as you have the power to care for or destroy this garden.” The High Queen indicated the surrounding foliage. Her granddaughter remained stoic and indifferent, clearing her throat the Queen continued. “Such is the unending duty of the High Queen. Therefore the Elders and I believe you must prove your worthy of the position with a rather small test.” The Queen whispered and waved her hands, her granddaughter oblivious to her antics until it was too late. With a final whoosh of magic Sylvia began to shrink. She struggled to counter the spell, but it was too strong. In a last attempt to save herself she cried out to her grandmother. Her voice was shrill. The words she said were nothing more than tiny squeaks. The High Queen had transformed her into a mouse.

Shake it off... Shake it off

     It is interesting, the things that can try to bring you down. I would go into details but it would take way too much time. So to sum it up; weather, driving, lack of sleep, loneliness, and accusations. Sometimes you just have to take a moment to yourself and focus your thoughts. Do you want to cry? Do you want to give up on the day? Do you want to hide yourself away from the world? Or can you shake it off and step up? Like the story of the donkey in the well, take each scoop of dirt thrown at you and use it to benefit you. Yeah sometimes and some days that is easier said than done, and sometimes you may need that cry. Just remember to keep working for what you want.

Update!

     I have finally finished my first book. It has taken me since August 2011 till December 2015 to complete the manuscript. At the time being it is off being read for editing by some anxious fans. I am absolutely thrilled that I was able to complete it. I have recently started book two of what I think will be a trilogy. We are now entering the Angelic City. And I am excited to introduce to you a rival to our beloved Nero Kelldonis. Sir Alexandre. A super amazing, strong, mischievous yet sweet angel attractive angel with a dark side. Ohh it is just too exciting. Let the adventure continue.

Key Components

     Reading books about how to write your story is a great idea. It is interesting to see how many components it takes to make a compelling novel. And how many of those come naturally to me when I write makes me feel like a super star!
     Now to share some tidbits that I have learned.
"What's the difference between premise and core idea?... the core idea is,... what makes you want to sit down and write it. Premise, on the other hand, is what makes a reader want to read it." (Write Your Novel in a Month by Jeff Gerke)
     To be honest. When I reached this part of the book I had to read the section three times over before the message got through to me. It resulted in one of those "Ah-Ha" moments. What makes me want to write my book and what would get someone else to read it. Similar yet different.
     I think I am going to give you my Premise. Or at least the one I have in the making.

     Apocalypse: Usifrim

  The end of  the world has come and gone leaving three races of beings Angels, Demons, and Humans, fighting for justice, ownership, and survival in this harsh new world. Two Governments are formed attempting to take control of the chaos. The Angelic-Human formed Syndicate. A strict high-control governing force owning all allegiance with the Angels and the forced submission of Humans. And then there is a quiet hidden group known as the Usifrim.
   Raised at the Usifrim Academy, Claire has grown up under the watchful supervision of the school's thirteen professors. But today is graduation, the first step to leaving the peaceful protection of the Academy and venturing into this dangerous world armed with her knowledge, skills, and her Demon Partner Nero Kelldonis. But he is an Incubus. She can't give into her deep desires, passions, and love for him. Can she?
   Nero Kelldonis is a Great High Lord of the Seventh Sin Lust. As an Incubus he needs to find nourishment through intimate desires from Humans. Being bonded with this plain human girl Claire is not what he signed up for. In fact he doesn't know why he is here at all or what he feels toward this pathetic female. All he knows is he is too good for her and too bad to be caught in the act of being a hero.

     So What do you guys think? Does it capture your interest? Does it make you want to read more and find out what happens? I hope so. And writing that makes me want to write in my book. So talk to you later. I am off to be brilliant!

A New Me

     Since I moved in with my parents, while my husband is away, my children are no longer on any kind of schedule. They were on a sleep, bath, play, read, nap, meal, and exercise schedule. No more. But that is neither here nor there. The point I would like to make now is, I need to re-schedule my life and the lives of my kids. They are running wild with no structure. So it is time to bite the bullet and take charge.
     In order to get my kids on a good sleeping schedule I need to pry them away from toys, grandparents, uncles, and auntie in order to get the sleep they need. They can't stay up till one in the morning any more. From tonight onward they will be sleeping at 8:30 pm.
     I need to structure the rest of their day. But I am not sure how to do that yet. I will have to give it some thought as the day goes on.
     My books arrived in the mail. I decided that I need someone or something to give me positive motivational encouragements daily for me to be inspired to write. So I purchased some books. And I got my I-pod out of the dust-bunnies and deleted all the silly songs on it to put my epic music that I listen to when I write so I will have more ideas for my book as the day goes on. Now to find a time and place where I can sit down and write in solitude for a few hours. That will be the hardest thing of all.
     Would you like to hear my motivation for today?

"I willingly expand and reach outward with my writing and, at the same time, contract and pull inward for answers and calm. The balance within me is perfect. (Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths.)"-The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts

     There you go. I will write later. Hope that helps you. Hope that helps me too.

The Lost Chapter

     My book finally got some attention yesterday. I sat down with Lappy on my lap ready to write up a storm when, I found that a whole chapter of my writing had disappeared. Apparently it all started when my kids got a hold on Lappy, my laptop computer and decided he needed fixing (which wasn't so). So using a hammer, my son gave Lappy a swift whack to the screen. Yeah. Now Lappy needed fixing. He had a large white blotch in his screen. I was so sad I set him aside. Turned off. So that he might recover. When I returned to him, ready to assess the damage and call the computer doctor. He was better. No more white spot! Good boy Lappy!
     But no one could have foreseen the unspeakable loss that had befallen me and my book from that escapade.
     I opened my book yesterday, as I have said, and chapter three was gone. I was beside myself. Granted it is the ugly stepchild of my book. I don't quite care for it much, and eventually it may be permanently removed from the story all together, but there were some key pieces that would be sorely missed.
     Downtrodden and disappointed I sat there trying to remember exactly how the chapter was played out. I could remember some points. A bit here, a figment there. It was hopeless. I would have to attack it from scratch. But wait! Yes, I recall printing chapter three out for my mom and dad to read. They never did however. So... what happened to the manuscript?
     I searched their room, the bookcase, my room, the living room. I couldn't seem to find the chapter. Then my daughter, sucking on my wireless computer mouse, came walking to me. She thought she might share her chew toy, and maybe it would make mommy happy. It did. She is such a ray of sunshine. Then she waddled away. And...SLIP! She fell to the ground on some papers she had earlier pulled from my research bookshelf. I jumped to her aid. Lifting her up. Hugging her better. She, in her frustration with the world, kicked the pile of papers and shrieked at them for good measure.
     I picked the papers up as she ran to her rocking horse. She was feeling much better with her discipline she submitted the papers to. As I was picking them up I noticed that my daughter was wonderful! She found my lost chapter. I was so excited I picked her off of her rocking horse, she was very put out, and ran around to the whole family to show them who found the story. After a while of great praise and hugs and kisses and exaggerated hoorays my daughter thought this isn't so bad. And she switched to pageant mode. All waves and blown kisses.
     In the end. I typed the chapter into the story on my computer. Made a couple copies of it just incase. And now my story is on its way. So don't fret world. It won't be that long and you will get the book you have all been waiting for.

Time is not on my side

     I find that the time I have each day is extreemly short. I try to write. I try to take care of my awesome kiddies. And I try to do a million and one things. It doesn't work. I don't know if it is my lack of good time management skills or maybe each day is loosing hours little by little. Okay, okay. I have something to work on. Time management.
     I came up with a theme to talk about on here. I will talk about writing a book. Bits and pieces of knowledge that I find out along my trail. I will share what I learn with you awesome people. How does that sound?
     Until then, I will be sure to write more often, and I will try to manage my time better. Wish me luck!