Saturday Mornings

Today is the first Saturday I've been home in about two and a half months.

But speech is over, so I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn and ride a bus to a cold high school (they are always cold on Saturdays, I don't know why) and judge kids

giving speeches about anything from mosquitoes to suicide.

 

I love speech, but it's kind of nice to be home.

I am busy working on revisions at the moment and it's fun

to see my story getting polished up more and more.

 

I hope all of you are having a great weekend!

I hope to be around the blogging world a lot more now that speech is done. :)

Secondary Characters Bloghop Announcement!

I'd like to announce the Secondary Characters Bloghop!
Sometimes secondary characters steal the show, (or the book) and become our favorites. On May 22nd we want you to tell us about your favorite secondary characters from books or movies, or both!
Whether it's the funny best friend or that goofy kid next door,
we want to know what secondary characters
you just couldn't get enough of and why.

 

 

Theresa Paolo, Kelley Lynn, Jessica Salyer, Jenny Morris and Suzi Retzlaff
are cohosting and were all generous enough offer critiques as prizes!
These ladies are brilliant, wonderful critiquers.
I am also planning on giving away a three chapter critique along with an ebook
 of Secondary Characters,
which releases on May 28th.
Cassie Mae and Kelley Lynn will also pick a winner to get either an ebook of
Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend, or a signed copy of Fraction of Stone.
So sign up on the linky list below and start thinking about your favorite secondary characters!

Secondary Characters Cover Reveal

Swoon Romance revealed my cover today for Secondary Characters.

It's on the website and everything!

I have to say, I kind of love it. :)

 

 

 

When Mabel's best friend, Amber, drags her along on a double date she finds herself falling for Lance, the obnoxious class clown whom she swore she'd have no interest in. The only problem is, she's not sure if she's really the girl Lance is into, or if, like every other guy she knows, it's really Amber he's after. One thing is clear, if Mabel wants to be the lead in her own love story, she needs to start acting like it.

 

It releases May 28th.

I am also planning to have a bloghop to celebrate,

more details about that coming soon.

Have a great Tuesday everyone! (I am.) :) :)

 

IWSG: Bad Blogger

It's time for Insecure Writer's Support Group. To find out more check out Alex's blog. If you don't know Alex, you must be new here. Go find him right now!

I know I haven't been around lately, I've been so busy! But good busy. I have nine kids from my speech team going on to Sections next week, and three alternates. Most of them have a real good shot at going to State, too, so wish us luck! I also cast our spring play yesterday, so practices for that will be starting soon.


On the writing front I'm waiting to get my edits on Secondary Characters, but I'm keeping busy writing new things. I'm almost to 10,000 words on my latest project and I kind of love it. I also have a novella out with CPs, but now I think I might hate it. (I'm kinda' nervous they'll send back notes that say, "Um, really? This stinks.)

But my biggest insecurity right now is that after this big blogging break that I'll have a hard time getting back into it. I took a break in the spring last year, too, for speech and theater, and came back without trouble but of course I still worry about it. I really enjoy blogging, I love reading everyone's news and progress. And I will be back soon! If I've missed any major news please catch me up! Thanks!

Fraction of a Stone Releases Today!

Happy Release Day Kelley Lynn!

 

Check it out here!

Overcoming Adversity

 

Today is the launch of Overcoming Adversity, an anthology for Andrew.

It is for a great cause and was edited by Andrew's step-dad, the wonderful Nick Wilford.

 

A collection of seventy moving and uplifting original pieces - real life, flash fiction, and poetry - about battling against the odds and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. The contributors include Amazon bestselling authors Alex J. Cavanaugh and Kyra Lennon, and the cream of upcoming talent.

The anthology is part of a fundraising effort to send the editor's stepson, Andrew McNaughton, to a specialist college in England. Andrew has cerebral palsy, and is a remarkable young man with a promising future. However, the free further education options offered in his own country of Scotland will not challenge him and allow him to progress. In order to access the education he deserves, Andrew will have to pay exorbitant fees, thus creating a situation of discrimination.

Help us get Andrew to college by buying a book that runs the full gamut of human emotions, ultimately leaving you inspired and glad to be alive. Whatever struggles you are going through, our sincere hope is that this book will help.

Editor Bio: Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those rare times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction. When not writing he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also co-running a campaign to get a dedicated specialist college built in England. You can find him on his blog here.

You can get your copy of Overcoming Adversity here on Amazon. Or here on Smashwords.

The Bloghop of Joy

A big thank you to Kyra Lennon and Clare Dugmore for hosting this awesome bloghop. I love this idea! Everyone is sharing the things that bring them joy. And who couldn't use a little extra joy? Especially in the middle of winter!

Things that bring me joy:

-The sound of my kids laughing.
-When my kids learned to read, and now watching them fall in love with a book.

-When a great song comes on the radio. (Like this Tom T. Hall song, all about what brings him joy. I thought it was fitting.) :)

`
-Snow days.
-Warm, fuzzy socks.
-Finding a picture of Pinterest that inspires a new picture or scene. (This is a new one for me.) :)
-Watching people win. Whether it's seeing people start to cry and hug their horses after winning the roses at Nationals, or watching my speech kids' faces as they stand up for awards. Just last week a girl on my team got first place for the first time and she freaked out. They call up the top six, then start with sixth and work up to first. When they said fourth and it wasn't her she started to grin. Every place that wasn't her she got more and more excited until she realized she'd won. It was awesome.
-When my husband gets home from work and all the kids run up to hug him.
-Reading everyone's success's on their blogs. Every time one of you gets an agent or a publishing contract it lifts me up. It reminds me that success comes to those who work hard and dream big.

Tomorrow is our home speech meet, so today is crazy busy! But I am looking forward to sitting down with a cup of tea tonight after things calm down and reading about what brings joy to all of you. :) Have a great Friday everyone!