Teaser Tuesday's - Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 57 of Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts:

Polite too, even if she was a bit stiff about it. As if, Ripley thought, she wasn't quite used to dealing with people.

2014 Goals

I am like most people in that I become reminiscent at this time of year. I also start to look ahead and think about the year to come. I am not one to make New Year's resolutions, though. For me, starting something as a resolution because it's January first has never really worked. I'm far more successful if I think in terms of goals, whether they be new ones or ongoing. With that being said, I'd like to share my 2014 goals with you.

Writing

Naturally, as a writer, my goal for quite some time has been to achieve a book publishing deal. I've had some success recently with being published and I'd definitely like to expand upon that success. I've also learned a lot more about the publishing world and querying process in recent months that I intend to apply to my process. Here's my plan:

1. First, foremost and always, I will continue to write on a daily basis. I won't have anything to publish if I don't do this and keep up with it. As Nora Roberts says, "You can't edit a blank page." The most ideal way for me to keep on writing is to continue with the amazing Write Chain Challenge. The premise is to pick your daily goal for anything writing related and stick with it to make a Write Chain. It has been so motivational for me and I can't say enough good things about it.

2. Editing. I write and say that word with a big sigh because I am bad about editing. Some people LOVE it but I am not one of those people. I DREAD it but know that I need to get over it so that I can move forward in my quest for a book deal. So, I will edit more efficiently than I have in the past. And my first order of business in this regard is to figure out the best method of editing for myself. If anyone has any suggestions. please throw them my way.

3. I will query my properly edited and polished manuscripts. I've done this in the past with more than one manuscript but have received rejections. I went through almost two-thirds of 2013 depressed about this and barely writing. Thanks to #writeclub (on Twitter) and The Write Chain Challenge (which can also be found on Twitter) I am over my funk. I have regained and rebuilt my confidence as a writer over the past few months. I have also educated myself on things I needed to know but didn't. So I'm ready to start the querying process again. I plan to do this by the end of January.

4. Blogging. Here is another sigh-inducing topic. I was not a very good blogger in 2013. So, in 2014 I plan to write a blog post at least three times per week. It is very doable and in fact, I have several posts planned already.

Reading

I always start the year with a goal of reading 52 books during the year. I always surpass my goal. For 2014, I'm still starting off with the aim of 52 books but I'd like to read some genres I've never tried. I keep seeing New Adult and while I understand what it is - I don't think I've read any books in this category. I also keep hearing about Steampunk. In fact, this is what the Municipal Liaison for my NaNoWriMo region writes. I have actually read one short story that was Steampunk but I'd like to read more because it was very entertaining.

I have personal and crafting-related goals as well. I crochet a lot of our family's holiday and birthday gifts so I want to keep up on that. I also want to try knitting. I want to keep drinking my water, eating healthfully and exercising. Basically, I want to do the things that make me happy. Isn't that true for all of us. When I'm happy I'm a better person and that makes me a better wife and mommy - which in the end is what it's really all about.

Emotion vs. Action

I finished the first draft of my National Novel Writing Month manuscript three days ago. I know a lot of people say to put it away and give yourself a little distance from the story before starting the editing process. This is what I've done in the past and it doesn't work for me. I haven't gone back to anything I've applied this method to. It's only been three days but I'm ready to go over this manuscript and work on the second draft. Here's what has me at an uncertain stall, though: Emotion vs. Action.

I like to set the scene. I want anyone reading my book to feel immersed in the characters, the location and the emotions. As a reader, I like that immersion but I also like to get right into the story and be sucked into that world.

Recently, I received feedback from a submission that said my writing was solid but needed more action. I can't tell you how grateful I was (and am) for some constructive criticism. However, I am now questioning the balance between emotion and action in a story. I was told to "get right to it" and "pack a punch" from the beginning. I understand that I write in a slightly meandering fashion. I also understand that I need to pull the reader in immediately. I know how to write a first sentence, a first page that packs that punch. The thing I'm struggling with is keeping the emotional aspects I enjoy writing and reading while still having that punch. What is the balance? I know it's going to be different in each story and even different by genre but every story has to have both. Without emotion you have flat characters. Without some kind of action you aren't moving your story forward. I get this, I agree with this wholeheartedly; but how do you distinguish the balance?

Do any of you struggle with this? If so, have you figured out a way to deal with it?

Teaser Tuesday's - The Gift by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 34 of The Gift by Nora Roberts:

He'd strolled down the Left Bank, up Carnaby Street and along the narrow streets of Venice. After a decade of absence he found the walk down Main Street just as fascinating.

#Nerdlution Week One

This first week of #nerdlution has been a bit of a struggle for me. I suppose that's probably the case whenever one is attempting to improve their habits, though. I've gone from drinking relatively no water per day to fifty ounces per day. Honestly, each day I've had to force myself to drink the last few ounces. It's the knowing that I've made this public commitment that has me drinking the last little bit. It sounds (and reads) a little weird to struggle with something like drinking water but it's simply not easy for me. I'd rather have a coffee or a hot chocolate than a glass of water. I will say, that at the end of week one (and 350 ounces of water!) I feel healthier. Already my skin is less dry and I had less headaches this week.

The sit-ups are definitely challenging in that I can't do the 100 all at one time. I have to do fifty at a time. The last couple of days have been a little harder than the first few because the muscles being worked hurt when I do the sit-ups. But I know that's a good thing and a sign of things working.

Patience. This is where I thought I'd struggle but I have been much more patient this past week. I haven't been perfectly calm by any means but I've handled things that generally annoy me much better. My husband and children have noticed and they're the ones (along with myself, of course) I'm making this change for.

For me, #nerdlution is a success so far. I'm extremely pleased that I came across it on Twitter and decided to join in. I've been telling my family and friends about it and have a few willing to join in the next round. I've told them to join in now and we'll keep one another accountable. I'll let you know if they do.

Teaser Tuesday - Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Bella Andre

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 70 of Bella Andre's Kissing Under the Mistletoe:

When they'd first met yesterday in Union Square, she'd smiled so easily at him. Now her eyes were guarded.

#Nerdlution Round 1

As some of you may know, I have become a big fan of Twitter and its vast communities. I've posted before about my love and appreciation of #writeclub. Another that I adore is the #writechain challenge (make writing or editing a daily habit).

This weekend I have discovered #nerdlution. For the post introducing it you can go here and read all about it. The idea of #nerdlution is to pick something that you want to improve in your life and make a goal of doing it for fifty days. This round begins tomorrow, December 2nd and runs through January 20, 2014. I know daily practice and habits work! Since beginning the #writechain challenge, I have written every single day for 81 days straight. I know I will continue with this habit because it's just that important to me. I also exercise 4 - 5 times per week. I also end every single day with a book. However, there are some other things I'd like to make daily habits. So I'm going to use this first round of #nerdlution to create some new, healthy habits:

1. I do not drink enough water. So I commit to drinking 50 ounces of water for 50 days straight.

2. I really need to be a more patient person. I commit to actively learning ways and methods of being more patient and implementing them into my life.

3. I do plenty of cardio (and actually like it) but I need sit-ups in my life. I loathe them but will do 100 per day for 50 days.

I think these are all achievable goals and I'm excited to get started with them tomorrow. I will either blog or tweet my progress each day, perhaps even both.

Teaser Tuesday's - Must Love Mistletoe by Christie Ridgway

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 117 of Must Love Mistletoe by Christie Ridgway:

He couldn't afford to feel, damn it. Every agent knew that.

Teaser Tuesday's - Dark Witch by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 75 of Dark Witch by Nora Roberts:

"I brought my resume," Iona began. Business, business, business, she reminded herself. And stay out of trouble.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to this guy...

Simon le Bon of Duran Duran. And yes, I borrowed the picture from their Facebook page. :) I love this band with all my heart and can't wait for their new album next year!

Teaser Tuesday's - Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 34 of J.D. Robb's Thankless in Death:

Since he liked to gloat, wouldn't he like to brag to friends? Maybe roll out and hit Vegas again, see if his luck improved there, or go sun on some tropical beach?

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

I love this readathon and participate whenever I can.  I signed up to do it in April and then unexpected life occurrences made it so I only read for about two hours.  Today, due to more of those times of life happenings, I am starting late.  Oh well, at least I still get to play along for more than two hours this time.

I started off by doing the Books on Books mini-challenge.  It was fun.  She has the title of twelve books covered up.  We're supposed to share the titles we know.  I only knew three but oh well, I still played.  Now I'm going to read my current book Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts.  I hope everyone is having an amazing day and reading lots.

Wordless Wednesday - Rainy Evening

Teaser Tuesday's - Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 68 of Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts:

You can scare me.  But you won't scare me away.

Writing Space

I will admit it - I was not the most ambitious writer this summer.  I had spurts of inspiration and writing time but nothing overly solid came of it.  I could say I was busy and that would be true but it's also an excuse because I'm always busy.  I have a husband and we have kids and jobs and extended family and friends.  Yeah, everyone, everywhere is busy.  And yet a lot of people still manage to pursue their creative dreams and goals.  Why was I slacking on that for myself?

I don't know the answer.  I don't mean for this to be an overly introspective post, either.  What I want to share is that I finally made the decision to take back my writing space both figuratively and literally.  In the middle of August I was on Twitter (a place I was hit and miss about before but now totally in love with) and discovered a seriously cool and amazing group @FriNightWrites.  We (yes I had to join in on this movement) are a group of writers from all over the U.S. and the U.K. who use the hours on Friday night to write together in thirty minute sprints.  It's actually a twelve hour period (11 a.m. to 11 p.m. PT). 

If you haven't done anything like this before you may be thinking something along the lines of, So what? I know this because that's sort of what I thought for about five seconds in the beginning.  I was wrong, oh so wrong, to think that way, though.  The people involved in this group (3,402 Followers at time of writing this post) are so nice and so inspiring and incredibly supportive of one another! It humbles me to be a small part of it.  This group has really helped me to focus on my writing again for which I am enormously thankful.  It has also given me a sense of community with other writers which I sorely needed.  The hashtag is #writeclub if you're interested in checking it out on Twitter.  It's so worth it.  In the six-and-a-half weeks I've been involved I've written nearly all of a manuscript and one short story.  That's really fast output for me.  Just check it out - I guarantee you'll love it!

As for literal writing space, I took over a corner at home.  No one is allowed to leave any of their stuff here! This entire corner is mine and I will guard it with a vengeance (especially during NaNoWriMo but that's a post for another day)!

Teaser Tuesday's - Getting Rowdy by Lori Foster

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 53 of Lori Foster's Getting Rowdy:

I'm not afraid of you."  Whatever secrets Rowdy had in his history, he wasn't a threat to her.

Wordless Wednesday - In Remembrance

Teaser Tuesday's - Take Me Under by Rhyannon Byrd

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 61 of Rhyannon Byrd's Take Me Under:

"Don't even try that innocent act," she snapped.  "I can't believe you didn't tell me he's my new landlord."

Teaser Tuesday's - Hotshot by Julie Garwood

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 28 of Julie Garwood's Hotshot:

It was a beautiful resort.  A little worn, but still charming.  There were a dozen bungalows, a small hotel and a two-story apartment building. 

Teaser Tuesday's - Three Little Words by Susan Mallery

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 183 of Susan Mallery's Three Little Words:

"I want your mind busy so it can't freak you out."
"I'm not freaked out.  I'm totally calm."

Colorful Crochet

One of the things I like about my yarn obsession is the color! When I'm making something for someone else I always go for colors I know they like.  Often I am surprised by how pretty some of the colors look together.  Case in point, the beginning of this bright item, which is going to be a Christmas gift:

I can say, without doubt, that it would never be a natural instinct for me to pair orange and pink.  However, seeing these squares come together has been yet another lovely eye opener for me about color.  Of course, I'm sure it's also a matter of knowing that this fits the personality of its recipient to a T.  And there is such joy in that knowledge!

Teaser Tuesday's - True Love by Jude Deveraux

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 40 of Jude Deveraux's True Love:

"They all work for a living.  Whether their tools are claw hammers or six-syllable words, they're all workers."

Teaser Tuesday's - A Lot Like Love by Julie James

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from  Nook page 23 of A Lot Like Love by Julie James:

Over the last six months, he'd posed undercover as everything from a drug dealer to a thief to a con artist; he'd spent nearly thirty nights in jail, and he'd taken down twenty-seven corrupt Chicago cops.  He could certainly handle one billionaire heiress.

Teaser Tuesday's - Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 54 of Susan Mallery's Two of a Kind:

In the few months she'd been in town, she'd made friends.  Women who didn't seem to mind that she was socially awkward and often said the wrong thing.

Wordless Wednesday - Patriotic Dessert

Teaser Tuesday's - All Summer Long by Susan Mallery

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 71 of Susan Mallery's All Summer Long:

There he was standing on the sidewalk, staring at the fire station trying to figure out which was crazier.  Him having to fight to put his life on the line for free or being interested in a woman who probably thought she could take him in a fight.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans! Stay safe and enjoy the fireworks tonight! Everyone else, have a great evening and stay safe.

Wordless Wednesday - Beach Fun

Teaser Tuesday's - Only Yours by Susan Mallery

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 263 of Susan Mallery's Only Yours:

 

"Simon, I don't see the scars.  I haven't for a long time."

Going to Camp

Well, I'm not literally going off to summer camp.  I am participating in Camp NaNoWriMo, though.  This is the summer version to November's National Novel Writing Month.  I wasn't going to do it this month.  I've been in a bit (okay, a lot) of a funk in regard to writing, publishing, etc.  I've just been feeling bad about it all after another round of no's for my novel that I've been shopping.

Then I saw something on Facebook today that gave me a much needed wakeup call.  It basically said, "Never Give Up."  I thought about the number of times I've suggested that other people not give up on their dreams and realized I'm not really practicing my own advice.  So, after giving myself a mental smack down, I'm not giving up.  I'm done being in a funk and I am back to writing.  I've set my camp word goal at 30,000 words for July and happy to say that I have written 1,200 today.

I'm never giving up.  I will continue forward, one word at a time.

Teaser Tuesday's - Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 22 of J.D. Robb's Rapture in Death:

"He didn't have any visitors, didn't go out.  He just settled in for the evening, then hanged himself."
"It's not a homicide."

Teaser Tuesday's - The Marrying Season by Candace Camp

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 91 of Candace Camp's The Marrying Season:

"Will we have a marriage in name only?" Curiously, that thought made her feel a trifle deflated.

Teaser Tuesday's - Born in Ice by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 100 of Nora Roberts' Born in Ice:

"That's what fiction is all about, books, movies, whatever.  It gives you a break from reality and lets you worry about someone else's problems."

Wordless Wednesday - Feeding the Ducks

Teaser Tuesday's - Delusion in Death by J.D. Robb

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 101 of J.D. Robb's Delusion in Death:

"I think time's going to be a problem.  I don't think this maniac's going to wait until my psyche's all nice and cozy again."

Teaser Tuesday's - Time Thief by Katie MacAlister

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 187 of Katie MacAlister's Time Thief:

"I like the fact that you feel comfortable telling me everything you think.  I enjoy seeing how your mind works."

Booking Through Thursday - 50

From Booking Through Thursday, this week:

My brother-in-law turns 50 this weekend. So, in his honor, please pick up your nearest book or whatever book you’re currently reading, and turn to page 50 and then share the first 50 words with the rest of us.
(Do feel free to round this off, to stop and start with complete sentences, though.)

So, from page 50 of the large print edition of Nora Roberts' Angels Fall:

"I appreciate you going to all this trouble."  She ordered herself not to panic because the stairwell seemed so much smaller with him beside her.  "I certainly dropped into a friendly town."

"Wyoming's a friendly state.  May not be many of us here, but we're congenial.  I heard you were from Boston."

Teaser Tuesday's - What She Wants by Sheila Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 158 of What She Wants by Sheila Roberts:

"I know this much - you act like a hero, you'll get the girl.  Love always wins in the end."

Teaser Tuesday's - Bare it All by Lori Foster

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 30 of Lori Foster's Bare it All:

She didn't act uncomfortable.  She acted like it was routine to have such an odd conversation.  "Nothing with me should be awkward."

Teaser Tuesday's - Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 94 of Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts:

She knew all too well the iffy power in Bluff House during a storm, or in Whiskey Beach altogether.  She flicked on the little penlight on her key ring and followed the tiny beam to the kitchen.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: A Little Visitor

A sweet little visitor from my daughters classroom.  She quite loved looking
at herself in the mirrored door.

Teaser Tuesday's - A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 203 of Maeve Binchy's beautiful A Week in Winter:

The cries of the wild birds and the pounding of the sea made talking impossible.  They strode on together, pausing to look out over the Atlantic and to realize that the next land was three thousand miles away in the United States.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon

I know this is a familiar post to many as I have done this readathon a few times now.  I love this readathon and will continue to participate as long as it is offered, though.  This time, the twenty four hour event begins on Saturday, April 27^th. 

It is open to anyone with a love for reading and connecting with others who share that love.  A lot of people do have a blog but it is definitely not a necessity.  In fact, it seems a lot of people used Twitter in October to post about their progress.

I’m not certain what books I will be reading as of yet.  However, I do know that there will be some children’s books as it has become routine to read with and include my children in the readathon.  Also, if I’m still on my nonfiction kick – some of that will be included.  And of course, which ever fiction books I am in the mood for at the time.  Maybe I’ll even make it for the entire twenty four hours this time.

Have you participated in this (or any other) readathons in the past? Will you be a part of this one? I’d love to hear about your experience.

Nonfiction

Apparently I am on a nonfiction kick.  I have nothing against nonfiction in general but I definitely read a lot more fiction.  However, I just went to the library and came home with four books, all of which are, you guessed it, nonfiction.  So, as I said, I guess I'm on a kick.  It's further interesting to me as I've been having a difficult time getting into fiction books lately.  It's not that I've read anything really terrible but nothing so mind-blowingly great, either. 

The first nonfiction book I am going to read is The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell.  It's a book about the five different ways children express their love and the ways we can show them love in return, in a way most meaningful to them.  I'm really excited about this book.  Thank you to one of my best friends, Julia, for turning me on to this book.

How about you? Do you read nonfiction? If so, do you have any good recommendations?

Happy Easter

However you celebrate - I hope you have a very peaceful and special day!

Nature

As a child, my family often went camping.  We also went hiking and fishing.  As teenagers, my dad took my brother and I hunting and dirt biking.  Although admittedly, that was during my very early teen years.  I took a long break from all of these activities once I got busy in high school.  I lived and went to college in New England and definitely went on some beautiful Autumn hikes while there.  Later, once I met my husband, I started hiking and camping again with him.  Not all of our camping trips were succesful; once we nearly froze in Northern California in October.  What were we thinking? I admit that I really do want a bathroom nearby, too.  We did (and do) enjoy being in the outdoors together.  In fact, we got teased quite a bit about our wedding registry because of the camping gear we had placed upon it.

Now we have children of our own.  While they were infants and toddlers the idea of going camping with them just did not sit well with me.  We have taken them on hikes though, and they love that.  Now that our children are well beyond the toddler stage, my husband and I want to take them camping.  I love fishing and one child wants to do that while the other absolutely does not. 

All of this being said, we are on the hunt for wonderful places that are relatively local to fish, hike and camp this summer - with a nearby bathroom, of course.  I am also trying to locate some books on the topic in order to immerse the imaginations of my children into the possibilities of nature vacations.  I am excited about this and hope it all comes together the way we'd like it to.

Booking Through Thursday - Spring

Booking Through Thursday is a fun, weekly, bookish question and response event. This week's question is:

Happy Spring, everyone! What book are you choosing to celebrate with?

I've been in a thoroughly frustrating book rut.  However, I started reading the latest by Victoria Alexander last night and it captured my attention immediately.  It is called The Importance of Being Wicked.  Also, if my friend is ready to start our next book club selection, I will begin The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan.

Teaser Tuesday's - The Importance of Being Wicked

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 7 of Victoria Alexander's The Importance of Being Wicked:

"Fortunately," he continued, "everyone in the house escaped unharmed.  And no one was injured battling the blaze."

Teaser Tuesday's - Return to Sullivan's Island

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 3 of Return to Sullivan's Island by Dorothea Benton Frank:

The house knew everything about them, and being there made them believe that they were safe from the outside world.  In their case, telling family tales was what they seemed to do best.

Wordless Wednesday - Handmade