Goodbye July

I can't believe we are at the end of July already! This year is flying by at warp speed! I hope everyone had a great month and that August is even better!

One step closer

This is a printed copy of my manuscript. I was having a difficult time with the editing of it and my writing partner suggested printing it out. I don't know why exactly but reading through and marking up a paper copy of my book made a HUGE difference in the revision process for me! This afternoon I finished polishing it up and plugging in some of the holes in the story. Now I need to make all of the changes in my electronic copy. Hopefully that won't take too long, though. Then I'll be ready to send it off to the publishing house that is expecting it. I hope they acquire it! Even so, I'm one step closer to achieving my publishing goal and dream. Also, I'm proud of this story and the work I've put into it already!

Duran Duran article

Duran Duran - a Phenomenon that may never happen again according to the Huffington Post. Considering that they are my favorite band - and have been for a LONG time - I'm inclined to agree with this article! Still, it's a good one worth sharing - so enjoy!

Joy

I LOVE this quote so, SO MUCH! In my opinion this is an absolute truth! 

Fun at the Fair

Wordless Wednesday: Pomegranate

Teaser Tuesday: Three Fates by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday is newly hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. 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 Three Fates by Nora Roberts:

"You throw marriage around pretty freely, Jack."

"No, I don't. You're it. Get used to it."

Why, that's so flaming romantic, I feel I might swoon."

It is important

This quote is SO true! I realized last week that I was dragging my feet in regard to revising my current manuscript. I decided enough was enough and that I needed to buckle down and get things DONE! I am happy to say that over the past week I have completed twelve chapters of this round of revision! I have four to go and then I need to put all the revisions into my electronic document. At the moment I am working off of a printed copy of my manuscript. It has been amazing to revise this way! I have things crossed out, written in and questions about plot holes written in the margins. It has been a completely different experience revising on paper rather than on the computer screen. I have no idea why but it is the truth for me! I'm actually excited to be doing revision which is odd for me. I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel on this project and I am happier with it each day. 

Sunday vibes

Here's hoping you're all having a relaxed and joyful Sunday. There's been play time, movies, a trip to Starbucks and swimming here today. It has been so peaceful so far and I hope that that continues into the evening!

Overhaul or polish

I'm happy to share that the revision on my current manuscript is finally going well! So far it has been mostly polishing but I am coming to the last quarter of my book. I know there is some overhaul work coming within a couple of those chapters. I'm excited about it though because I am one step closer to submitting this book. 

Descendants 2

My kids (and I) have been looking forward to this movie for months! Now that we've watched it we can honestly say that it is GREAT! It was so much fun and already my kids are talking about watching it again tomorrow! The soundtrack is really fun, too. I have a feeling it will be making its way into our home tomorrow.

Enjoy your journey

Wordless Wednesday: Delicious veggies

Teaser Tuesday: The Alice Network

Teaser Tuesday is newly hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. 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 118 The Alice Network by Kate Quinn:

I thought back to Eve's haunted whisper when she'd quoted  that bit about how death awaited the enemies of Germany. Something about her said combatant to me. 

Patience

Thi speaks to me on so many levels and for many reasons. It is just what I needed for this day!

Stay calm and breathe

This is great advice and I'm putting it here to remind myself. 

The Alice Network

I am loving this book! I especially enjoyed reading it poolside at my in-laws' this afternoon! If you like historical fiction, books set in either World War and strong female characters then I highly recommend this book.

Try

Music melts...

Wordless Wednesday: Butterfly and little hand

Teaser Tuesday: The Alice Network

Teaser Tuesday is newly hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. 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 The Alice Network by Kate Quinn:

"You don't need my father's consent. It's my name on the account. It was arranged that I would have access to it when I turned eighteen, and I'm nineteen. You don't need anyone's consent but mine."

Musing Monday: Secrets of the Tulip Sisters

 Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by The Purple Booker that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

I can't wait to get a copy of Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery. It comes out tomorrow and I have been really looking forward to it! The only thing I'm undecided about is whether to purchase the paper or electronic version. I'm leaning toward the paper version because she is one of my favorite authors. Also, I love the cover. Tulips are my favorite flower and they're definitely displayed on the cover of the book. Okay, I'm decided: the paper version of the book it is!

Relax

Summer evening

Hot weather dinner

When we're in the midst of a heat advisory I REFUSE to turn on my oven or stove. So tonight I made fruit salad then chopped up a bunch of veggies and called it dinner. We all loved it and we're full so win-win!

Audio books

I recently began listening to audio books. I've listened to one by Susan Mallery and The Magnolia Story by Chip and Susanna Gaines. They were wonderful to listen to and I got to listen to books while also doing other things like crocheting, doing dishes and organizing my desk.

Strangely, it didn't occur to me to try listening to anything by Nora Roberts or J.D. Robb. I was reading another opinion on audio books the other day and the writer said that she LOVES the In Death series on audio and especially the way the audio reader does Roarke's voice. THAT is what had me finally running to the library today to get the fist book Naked in Death. I can't wait to hear how the story is read and how Eve, Roarke and the other characters are brought to life!

Wordless Wednesday: Fireworks

Photo taken by my daughter.

Happy 4th of July

When I lived in Boston in the mid 1990's one of my favorite things to do was go to the 4th of July events on the Esplanade of the Charles River. It was an all day event and we'd get there early to claim our chunk of grass on the riverbed and enjoy the day. We'd be with friends. have a picnic, talk, laugh a lot, share ice cream and thoroughly enjoy the summer day and night celebrating our freedom. The night would be capped off with the ever amazing 4th of July show by the Boston Pops. This is something I would love to share with my family someday. For now, we'll enjoy the show in another way - like through YouTube.

I hope everyone is having a lovely day - wherever you are - and for m fellow Americans, stay safe and Happy 4th of July! Enjoy the Boston Pops 4th of July show from 1993!

Musing Monday: Release dates

 Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by The Purple Booker that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

This week's random question: Do you follow book release dates and eagerly await a new arrival? Or do you just kind of check things out in a more casual manner?

I follow release dates and eagerly anticipate them for my favorite authors: Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, Susan Mallery, Jill Shalvis, J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith to name a few. Other than those I am more casual but every now and then I get excited about an upcoming book and pay attention to the release date. For example, next Tuesday, July 11th Susan Mallery's latest Secrets of the Tulip Sisters comes out. Another book that I learned about recently called The Bookshop at Water's End by Patti Callahan Henry is coming out on the same day. I am excited about both of those books and can't wait to get my hands on them for summer reading. 

A place of beauty

I find nature so beautiful and inspirational. This picture of the Rocky Mountains really speaks to me. It looks so cool, refreshing and full of possibility. I especially love the reflections on the water.

Hello July

Is it really July already? Yes it is and I have to say that I am feeling a bit of shock over 2017 being halfway done. I've been living it - thankfully - but still we're halfway through this calendar year! Here's hoping for love, peace and good health to all for the remainder of 2017 and always!