I told everyone I would be doing a daily log on my writing experiences, but I thought I better start at the very beginning. Why in the heck would I want to write? What got me started in the first place ... Like I said in the title, "Why the heck not".
Really though. I have always found myself dabbling with words in a journal, or just writing thoughts down. One of the ways for me to communicate my true feelings was to write a note. I could pour my heart out when I put it in writing. I'm not sure why I never had the ability to verbalize my true emotions, but for me that's how it was. If my best friend hurt my feelings, because she admitted she liked Billy, but knew I did first ... well, then I'd let her have it through a serious note chewing.

After adolescent years, verbalizing got better, but writing was still a strong way for me to communicate. When things heated up to a boiling point, I got out a pen.

I tend to be a fairly private person and me sitting down to tell the whole world is a big thing. Writing a fiction story with fictitious characters is one thing, but opening up and letting people into my world is a whole different matter, but I want you to know. I want you to know what drives me to keep typing away at my keyboard every morning. Why I keep writing stories.

I was home schooled from seventh grade on due to illness. I had months of lying on the couch too weak to hold up my own spoon. My mother stayed at home with me and cared for me daily. Not that this was a bad deal for me then, but my mom would sit and do my homework with me. When I say my mom sat with me, I should actually say, she read me the questions and then filled in my worksheets for me. I couldn't hold up a pen. Like i said ... not a bad deal for me. She was the one doing all of the work. My reading assignments, she actually read all the books out loud to me. I'll never forget "The Hound of the Baskerville". I think that might have been the first book I actually read in its entirety... and that's because I was just doing the listening. Even though I was sick and weak, I still had big dreams.

Finally, getting strong enough to move from the couch a few hours at a time, I started hanging with the wrong crowd. I had way too much time on my hands. Needless to say I got pregnant at sixteen. Talk about a motivator. I knew I needed to support my rugrat, so at seventeen I started cosmetology school. Of course I had my bumps. I still hung with the wrong crowd, and no one believed in me becoming anything other than a statistic, but I was determined and I was seriously trying to better myself and get a life skill.

How about we just fast forward a few years, let's say five. When my third child was born. I was a licensed/working Cosmetologist and Massage Therapist. I had my own Massage practice and worked at a local salon. One evening I was reading a story to one of my kids and an idea for a story of my own popped into my head. After tucking in my babies, I started jotting little notes. Over the next fourteen years, I had added and added to it, so my idea of a little kids picture book was no longer a little kids picture book. It was a full sized novel. But what the heck now?

I had no idea what I was supposed to do. Editors, agents, publishing companies and who knew what else. I sat on it. Actually, I'm still sitting on it. But ... out of the blue, who knew ... I had my best friend over for dinner one night. It had been a while, since she had been traipsing all over the USA. We got to talking about what she was doing with her band management, and my book came up. She looked at me and said "you do realize I am a literary agent. That's what I do." I was a bit dumbfounded, yet excited too. This was the first person that gave me a glimmer of hope into another world. I asked her loads of questions. Some she helped with others not so much, but I found energy again. I gave her my manuscript and waited to hear from her.

As I waited for her, impatiently, I started on my novel Never Again. I had read Fifty Shades of Grey and thought how hard could it be to write an Erotic Romance novel? Once my girlfriend contacted me again, she gave me a name of an editor to contact. Immediately, I sent him a message. I wanted to get this ball rolling. I was in the groove. When I contacted him, I originally had my YA Fantasy in mind when we spoke. He had asked me what books I was working on and I told him My Fantasy and of course my naughty book. He wanted to look at my naughty book. I was a little upset, because I put so much heart and effort into my Young Adult book, but I sent him my other book instead. After some coaching and rewrite after rewrite, I had another Editor help finish the book. And low and behold ... that book is published. I will get into that process tomorrow so those of you who are newbies and self-publishing can get in on some of the know hows. I just wanted to get a little back story, so people could get a feel for me and my passion to write. I will add more and more and give some tips on different matters that I have bumped into along the way.
I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Everyone that blogs usually have a certain subject they find inspiring and then the need to tell everyone else about it. I have been racking my brain as to what people might actually want to read. I could tell beauty tips up the wazoo (since I've been a cosmetologist and licensed Massage therapist for the last twenty years). However, my passions have steered away from that industry a bit. I have found a new passion ... writing. Okay I am extremely new to the writing process as a professional business, but it does not stop this passion growing inside. It is roaring like a fire that I don't want to contain. I want to free it. Let it grow and expand. So........ a little gap for some breathing......

I have decided that I am going to write a daily log about my experience as a new writer. I'm not just talking about; ooh I wrote this today, but more the steps I am taking to try to get my name out in the big world. Advertising choices, who and where I am using as resources and who and what I think might be working for me in my journey. I have already made some bad advertising choices and I am hoping as I grow I can help others with their journey's as well as my own. Since I haven't started this daily log yet, I will have to do a bit of a recap from the beginning of the process, so It might be a bit choppy. My goals with this is to help others, but to see if I can find a pattern to actually help myself along the way. The writing world is a tough gig, and yes I want to find that agent that is going to help me get my books in the stores. I want to be walking through a check out line and say "Hey that's my book".

Perseverance is key. I hope that my bad choices and decisions will help and if anyone has any other suggestions for me to jump in to, feel free to send me a message. If we all stick together we can reach the moon.

I will start my little log session tomorrow so stay tuned.

I have been writing up a storm to get more stories in your hands, but today I think I'm going to take a little break and make some jelly. YAY!!!

This time of year in the Seattle area is great pickin's. My kiddo's went out and brought back huge bowls ... full of blackberries, (oh yes and apples). I made some killer apple crisp with those little juicy apples. I still have so many apples I think I might just have to make some apple sauce too.
 
I'm not a pro at all of this canning stuff. I did quite a bit last year, but before then I just sat in the kitchen with my mom and grandmothers helping them the best I could. I know it sounds nostalgic, but I really hope that my girls can have some of those memories as well. I hope that their only memories don't consist of shows and movies we all watched together. I want them to have those good heartfelt ... I remember whens. That warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you walk into a room with a certain scent in the air.

Well the best I can do is roll up my sleeves and give it a whirl. If it doesn't turn out that perfect, at least the girls will be here getting their hands dirty with me. Hopefully the little one doesn't decide to eat all the berries before we can get them turned into jelly. Good times.

Wish me luck. I need this done so I can get back to story telling.

Me and my husband packed up our Honda Accord ... filled it to the brim with camping gear. No, of course we didn't take our truck- that would be too easy. We headed from Seattle, Saturday morning, embarking on our adventure to the Big sky country-Montana.

I'm not sure how many of you know, but I am a Montana grown girl. With that, we know some great camping destinations. My hubby and I love the outdoors, and who wouldn't want to spend their fifth year wedding anniversary alone ... in the mountains? So, we dropped off the kids and headed up to one of our favorite camping spots.

We put up our shelter first ... our rinky dink tent (we have decided a new one is in order). Then, we got all the rest of our stuff set up; stove, table, chairs, air mattress etc... Silence, It's a bit strange when you realize there is no one to chase after, but I quickly pulled myself out of it.
 
The first day we gathered some wood and took a hike along the creek to scope out some potential fishing holes. Birds were yelling at us while we tromped through the trees and brush. The only sounds; our feet hitting the ground, the bubbling creek running over rocks and trees and maybe me huffing from the trek. It's so beautiful and peaceful there.

The air mattress only leaked a little. So, my husband and I ended up both somehow rolling to the center... it was cozy. Morning sunshine is not blocked out by a tent. We could only cover our head with the blankets for so long. What's that saying though, The early bird catches the worm. We hopped out of our dilapidated bed, and grabbed the fishing poles. Brook trout are not huge so we had to throw a few of the smaller ones back, but after getting two nice sized fish ... one a rainbow trout and the other a Brook trout we went and made breakfast. They were delicious.

Montana weather can be so temperamental and we knew a storm was forecast to move in later, so we went for a drive, down to the Missouri river. On our way, we fished the creek, picking random spots that looked like a good hole. We rounded a corner on the windy dirt road, and a black bear cub was next to the road. He/she was so stinking adorable, but he took off... scared. My husband being more adventurous than me, tells me to stop. He wanted to see if he could get a better peek at it. The more sensible one (me), I'm telling him no way. I knew in the back of my mind that there had to be a mommy lurking not too far. I lost. I pulled the car off to the side and he goes around some brush to see if he could see the cub. I sit in the car. I love my crazy husband. He comes back up to the car and proceeds to tell me about an awesome fishing hole he has to fish. I was dumbfounded. He wanted to fish right where the damn bear just ran into. He's lost his flipping mind. Being such a good wife I leave the doors open-in case we need to dive in real quick- and follow him to the creek. He wanted me to watch his back. I literally was spooked by every little sound thinking we were going to be mauled by a black bear mamma. Obviously, we survived. I am writing about it today, and he did catch a few fish out of that dang hole.

The whole bear thing a little out of my mind, we got to the river and decided to take the two mile hike back to the dam. The hike is gorgeous!

The worst part of the hike is trying to watch every step you make to make sure you weren't stepping on a rattlesnake. Parts of the hike, was over old rock slide areas, and in the back of my mind I knew there was a snake probably within a few feet of where I was walking. All in all the trip was amazing and ended way too quickly. Two days is not enough time to spend in the majestic mountains of Montana. Ending our outing we got poured on.

I love Montana.

Let's get honest here. I hated reading until, about hmm... maybe six years ago. Now, I have a book in my hand all of the time. Yes, I have some of my fav's. I am proud to admit that I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and yes I like Twilight-not even ashamed to say it aloud.
 
These Authors created entertainment using their good ole' fashioned imaginations and words.I know there are a lot of people with their own opinions and great ... they can like what they like. But I stick my tongue out to those of you that dis on me because my choice of likes. I'm going to go on liking what I like.
Let's forget about the big names for a minute...
I have been opened up to a huge world I really never knew existed ... Indie Authors. These are Authors who have struggled with the big time traditional publishing houses and forged ahead even after being let down. They have bypassed steps and are now publishing on their own. I solute these hard working artists.

I'm not going to get too ahead of myself here. I have had the pleasure to read a lot of Indie works and there are some seriously talented writers out there. Yes, I have read quite a few that could have been polished up more, before they sent them off to be published. In my opinion though, we should expand and check out some of these unknown Authors. You might just find your next favorite read.

I want to begin by saying Happy 4th of July to everyone out there. Please be safe! The growing threats on our country is a reminder of what this day represents. Remember what we, as America stands for.

On a completely different note. I want to talk about love. In particular, a mother's love. While everyone is out celebrating and blowing things up, I have a teenage daughter that is blowing up inside. I know teenage years are the hardest part of growing up. I was after all a teenager once, and I'm not too old to forget-yet. Things have changed a lot over the years though. There are no filters or boundaries any longer. This world has become an anything goes society.

If we talked back we got  back-handed. If we snuck out we got a belt to our behinds when we got home. Our children have no consequences for their actions. If a parent does put rules down our children blow up and threaten us ... the parents. Parents need to be able to discipline our children with out worry we will be drug into a back room getting reprimanded.

 My fifteen year old daughter took off last night. I called officers but there is not a lot they will do about it. Sure... blame it on the parents, but this parent that supposedly doesn't care about her child- according to child- laid restless all night. I was worried all night where my child, that I love and adore, is. Sleep deprived, sick to my stomach, and every worse case scenario running through my mind. I just want my baby home safe and sound.
Hug your children. And tell them you love them.

My ears are wide open.
I have put myself into a public domain offering my stories up for others to read. With this, comes opinions from the whole world. Bring it on. I am betting my life on the fact, that I will not be able to please everyone. That's okay. I write for me. I enjoy watching sentences be more than just sentences- but actual stories. There is such a freedom writing what my brain schemes up.

Today I was listening to others' opinions and a gentleman gave me a great idea for my next title. (See listening to others can be rewarding). I had been toying with Stepping over, but I think I'm going to go with... drum roll... boom, boom, boom

I haven't let anyone in on what it's about, so I'm going to finally share:
Nikki Cooper has everything she could possibly want; a husband of twenty years, three children, and above all happiness. On an evening of celebration, she catches her husband in an awkward position with another woman. Frantic, Nikki takes off with a long time friend and they are in a horrific car accident. When she awakes she finds out her life is changed forever, but on her road to recovery she meets a much younger gentleman. Torn between grief and the fact there is a large age gap, she needs to decide where her life is going.

This series will be broken up into a few short novella's and unlike my first series, it will not meet under the erotica criteria. This is just a plain, old-fashion romance story. Heartstrings will be pulled though. I promise that.

Thanks for listening.