Becoming Monsters "Book Review"

I have to admit that as I set up my favorite area with all my favorite snacks, my drink of choice and a nice fuzzy blanket to snuggle up with, I wasn't exactly thrilled to go on the reading journey I was about to. But I was determined.

You ever have those days? The ones where everything seems to be the same and you're just so damned sick of it?

Well, that was my day "About 4 days before this all takes place."

I love to read, I have loved to read my whole life and as I grew older, the realization hit me. "If you want to write, you have to read." Problem was ... I have read just about everything in the genre I love that I could get my hands on. Seems lately that the horror genre is repetitive. All the same story, just different characters and settings.

I needed something new.  
I decided to go out of my realm of comfort and try a new genre. Something fresh as well as something I knew nothing about. I was weary. Wondered if I had made the wrong choice. Wondered if I just wasted money on a book I would end up setting aside and never looking back on.

Sitting down, I turn on my kindle and load up the story "Becoming monsters." It took a few pages for me to really get into it. I was confused. "Mainly because I hadn't quite let go of the mindset that I was reading something new. I had to let go of what I was used to reading in written word, had to let go of what I knew, to let this story seep in unjudged.

Once I did, I was flooded with anticipation. Flung into a world that I wish could be reality. Each step on their journey I was right along beside them. It took 5 hours for me to finish that book, but a messy house later, and take out because I was too lost in the words of Liss later, I was hooked! "Honestly, I don't know how to go into detail without spilling the book."

I can say, that if you ever have time to spare, and need a book to escape into. This one is definitely worth looking into.

I only have ONE regret where this book is concerned .........
It's that I didn't read Book one first! Although that being said, even not having read the first in the series ... this book can hold its own as a stand alone book.

You should check it out!
as always ... thank you very much for stopping by and wasting a moment with me.
I hope you all have a lovely night xxDee

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

So many But's ... what's a girl to do?

Today is a good day, or at least its starting off decent. The house isn't in complete shambles so that is definitely a plus. The only thing at this moment I would change is the fact that there isn't a nice cup of hot coffee sitting next to me

Actually, hold that thought a second ... I will be right back. "Not that you would notice."

Scratch that

Nice cup of coffee, house isn't too terrible and my finished book (short story) *Fertilizer* is in the editorial stage and due to be published in May.  "Things are definitely looking up."

Realized I need an Author page. Amazon has a thing where you can make your own author page with them, however ... it feels impersonal. I had created a Facebook Author page in March, but never had the gull to push publish. How can I call myself an author if I didn't have a book out yet. There was no "Up and coming author" choice. It's there though ... waiting for me to grow a pair of balls and hit publish.

I don't know how well that would go now that I think about it. I would have a blog, an author page, a photography page, a custom candle page "Really, seems like a lot of different pages to keep up with." I wonder if there is a way to combine at least my blog and author page together for easier up keep.

But then I think ... People who read my blog might not be interested in the sort of stories I write and those who might happen to like my stories might not be the slightest bit interested in my life.

There is also the point that I want the people who like my Author page, to be people who really like my work. I want the likes to be earned. If I publish my author page on my *own* Facebook page .... sigh, I have the best friends in the world who really are so supportive. They would hit like instantly, just to give me the push I need. I need to feel like I have earned this. I need to earn my voice out there. I don't want cheats. I am thinking about only putting the link to it on the books that I publish, so that if someone reads my stories and like them, then they have a link to follow to be updated when there is more. Maybe I can earn likes that way.

But then ...........

So many different but's, Generating likes puts you out there a little more "Brightly." Which in turn could spawn more potential readers. Its a dilemma!

Today, my plan pretty much revolves around editing, formatting and all the technicalities that come with self publishing.

On a plus note: I have already finished the outline of short story two.

Well ... I better get on it. Only so many hours in the day. Thank you to those who stopped by to waste time with me. I apologize for the rant.

Sometimes, I just don't know what to do. Is it cheating? If you get your friends and family to bumo your page by giving it a like?

Have a wonderful day you guys xxDee

Happy Easter

Hello you guys .... Phew, The day is almost over. It's not that I don't love this holiday, its that I don't really love the GO GO GO because I have three kids hyped up on sugar part. Oddly, this year they were not up at the butt crack of dawn. I was. I sat there waiting, contemplating whether or not I wanted to go make coffee very loudly or allow them to sleep ... which in turn would let my husband sleep a little longer too.

I waited!

First thing ... I made it! All 40 days of lent plus the few extra I tacked on because it felt odd not to go all the way to Easter. For those of you who have not heard me complaining via Twitter or Facebook, I had given up fast food and booze. BOTH which I thought would be harder than it was and it turned out to be the opposite. No I am not a fast food junkie or a booze hound. I just have a hard time not doing what I am not supposed to. I haven't grown up in that way. The moment someone says I can't , I resort to instant want. But I did it! Whoot, whoot! Ate fast food today ... Honestly. I regret it. I didn't really feel too well after. I think perhaps it was the grease. I am not sure though. It is just not sitting too well. That happened to me one year I gave up chocolate too. I waited all 40 days, then ate some ... chocolate to this day is still no longer my favorite. Something in my tastes changed.

The egg hunt was fun! We found out though that the Easter bunny hiding the eggs at 10 at night was a bad idea. Why? Because apparently that is when the raccoons maybe possums decided to ransack the yard. Over half of he plastic eggs were cracked open ... ripped to pieces candy wrappers littered the yard in a trail that leads into the woods behind the house. Sigh ..... LMFAO! Definitely a story my kids will be telling their kids when they are older.

The story is going good ... It will be up and ready for sale by mid to late May - early June. The closer the deadline approaches, the more nervous I get. I hate rejection, but I better prepare myself for it. Some will like it, some wont. The quicker I come to grips with that, and learn to thicken my heart. The better off I will be. I am also very excited! I have to say that excitement outweighs the fear.

Found this site https://www.tomoson.com/ You can basically apply for free stuff, you just have to review it. So from time to time, a lot like the buzzagent days you might see me doing just that. I have to admit that I prefer this site better. I like the option of being able to apply for what I want to review. Not it being chosen for me and me having the choice of saying yes or no. So that is just a heads up of why you might see me talking about random products. You'll know why. I simply love free stuff, and If all I have to do is give an honest opinion about a product. Well then count me in.

Its almost five here where I am ... I have my cup of hot mango peach tea, which I have noticed smells a lot like those peach gummy rings you can buy. I hope it tastes like it. I am thinking, maybe it is time to start supper, a long with enjoy my last day of the kids home. Back to school tomorrow. I am so thankful for that. I love my kids, but sometimes a mom just needs a break. Grant you there really wont be a break. It will be more of a get the house clean and back on track before they get home since they destroyed it this week they were off.

Sigh .... Work never ends when you are a parent.

I hope that you all had a lovely Easter, and I you happen to not celebrate Easter, then quick fact. Easter was originally the celebration of sex and fertility, hence the bunnies and eggs. Now tell me THAT is not something to celebrate :) Have a good one guys! xxDee

First Kiss

Hey you guys .... *Wipes brow* "Phew, It has been a crazy couple of weeks." I mentioned before that I headed up north to be there for my sister Lonna and the birth of her son. Unfortunately we jumped the gun on timing. We soon found out that "Richard Colon the 3rd" had his own plans on when he wanted to debut himself to the world. But my goodness the wait was worth it. He is so incredibly beautiful. So much hair!

Today kicked off the beginning of spring break ... which in my world means, I am about to enter the phase of screaming at kids to "Knock it off" While trying my best to leave my hair in tact. I am also trying to get caught up on cleaning. You never really realize how much junk you accumulate until you have to clean it out. 8 years I have been in this house. When we were a family used to moving at least once every three years. Three times in three years before we settled here. That gave us time to get rid of all the stuff we really didn't need each year, making moving, and organization easy. 8 years however .... I am getting a crash course in how much of a pack rat I really am. I feel like I could occupy a week of hoarders.

Yesterday marked a special day. The fourteenth birthday of my eldest daughter. That is who you see in the picture at the top getting kissed by *Stretch* A very friendly giraffe at the aloha zoo in Cameron NC. We tease her that this is "HER VERY FIRST KISS" Two reasons. She hasn't had a first kiss yet "From a boy" and second .... Because of a very interesting moment we shared when she was younger and believed that she could marry a duck! I will link you to the youtube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR3UBuWJw2s "Well, all I can say is, At least she's moving up"

The weather has been nice. I have spent most of my time sitting outside on my yoga mat writing on my lap top. Because so far my mat has only been used as a place to sit while outside or for picnic's. Feels more like summer than spring, but I don't particularly mind. It is just nice to be outside without freezing my butt off.

Had the CPI security guy install cameras since we have had a few break ins around here. I seriously don't know if I feel safe, or invaded. Who knows when someone is actually watching. It also doesn't help that we can access them through our cell's to see at anytime, and Nicholas "My husband" Thinks it is funny to text me weird things like "How does that pie taste?" Or "I thought you said you were cleaning today." Sigh ................................. Although I think its kind of cool. If I ever decided I was brave enough for ghost hunting in my house, I could do it now. They are infrared cameras at night ... so I wonder if I ill ever catch anything.

I am still editing my story "Fertilizer" Taking a little longer than I thought it would be. I still have yet to write a correct blurb! I can't seem to describe it without telling you everything in it.
I do have a question ....... How do people feel about writers with multiple genre's? I am torn on whether or not to use a pen name for different paths I write in. Like one for kids stuff ... one for romance, one for thriller, horror, erotica, etc. I am not sure what I am leaning towards on that.

Well ... it is almost nine. I guess it is time to get kids in bed, grab some hot tea and call it a night. I hope each and everyone of you who might have come across this. Have a good night, day, Whichever you are in. Thanks for stopping by with me. xxDee

Sigh .... A new day - new chances

Sigh ................... That is what I am doing right now. It is the first morning I have woken up that I haven't dreaded communication. You ever realize that the moment you say that things are going to be better. things are going to be different ... that it's the exact same time that things decide to take a turn for the worse. I would say ironic. But the irony of the situation, is that its not ironic at all. It is the norm. So once again "Sigh."  "It is a beautiful day today." That photo is this morning's sunrise.

I've been busting my balls. I don't see a dent either. I have so much to do, very little time and no motivation to do it. Do you guys remember me mentioning a cat? Rumor? The one who made my porch her home, decided to get knocked up and then moved into my home with her four adorable little kittens? Maybe I only mentioned the part where I adopted her because she wouldn't go away. She was starving and I had no choice but to save her. I simply can not turn away from an animal in need.

Either way ... She had kittens. I brought her and them all inside and kept them safe, fed and warm. They have since all found homes. Rumor on the other hand has been being held hostage Despite of her many attempts to escape. I have suffered her incessant meowing for freedom and endured fleas. The damn cat had fleas (Insert sad face.) Needless to say, Whom ever owned her did not have her fixed etc. After the hardship of trying to find them homes ... I was NOT about to put that cat back outside without doing what the previous owners should have done. There was a very long, LONG waiting list for cats to get spayed. Today is her day though. I am literally (hah, I lied- let me change that) MENTALLY doing Cartwheels. Soon, I can set her free. As sweet as she is, she is definitely an outside type of cat. She is not happy being stuck here. Part of me hopes she stays around and honestly I think that she will. But part of me wants her to go to her home. They must miss her. Surely they do. It's not like she's a bad cat. She doesn't bite, doesn't scratch anything but the window she's trying to budge. She really is the perfect cuddly cat. It's my cat *Amelia* that's a total asshole. No judging me either. She is, She is a giant fur-ball who attacks without warning. Sometimes I contemplate shooting her with the Nerf-gun. But that sucker is never around when I finally give in to temptation.

Wow. Went on a rant there. Sorry about that. She is getting fixed. She will be able to go back outside, as soon as she is healed and Rumor will be as happy as a clam here soon. Are clams happy? I really do not understand that saying.

So I am still doing all the stuff I was supposed to accomplish yesterday, because I have three little monsters (children) who tornado each room I finish. Is it really illegal to tie them up and stuff them in closets? I mean, it would only be for a few hours. Just until I am done.

I am thinking about signing up for this thing "Campnanowrimo" https://campnanowrimo.org/sign_in Here is a link if you are interested. It's a motivator of sorts for writers. You put in a word count goal, you write each day till you reach it....Upload your story so they can do a word count (no worries, it automatically deletes your story soon as its done.) Supposedly some people have written a complete novel in a month. I don't know about other writers. But my gosh, sometimes it is hard to even hit 10,000 words. Much less the 80,000 plus you need to be considered a novel. I thought maybe I would give it a shot. What harm could it do. I mean, for all I know, I have the next best novel just waiting for me to be pushed to my motivational limit. I keep saying I am thinking about it. I am. I AM going to do this. I already signed up. Thanks to my girl Shandee. I love that girl.



It starts April 1st. Then again in I think June. I figured, I will be stuck in a car for nine hours. What else am I going to do. 10,000 Words ... HERE I COME.  If all else fails, Maybe I can at least get a few awesome shorts and just make a compilation of sorts.

My whole house smells like Mulberry. Or at least I hope so. Because that is what it is supposed to smell like. I don't exactly know what it should smell like, just know that the candles Mrs. Norton ordered are supposed to smell like it. So basically I am just hoping like hell that the Candle scent I used. IS IN FACT MULBERRY. We shall see I guess. It smells great though. I can't seem to keep my nose away from them.

Okay .. coffee has run cold and I really do have a ton to do. So I better scoot. I hope you guys have a great day. If not great then decent. If not decent ... then I hope like hell you got a good slice of pie, ice cream  ANYTHING to sweeten it a little while you plot revenge. LOL. xxDee

Sometimes, coffee and rest outweighs Cleaning.

Today is a good day. A busy day but a good one. Today is a get shit done, because you’re running out of time because you procrastinate too much day.

It’s a rush through the house and clean

Pack up all photography equipment for birth/and newborn shoot

Make sure all the bills are paid or set to be paid

A put last finishing touches on your book DAY. Along with so many other tedious things I didn’t bother boring you with. 

I let my baby sister “Lonna.” Who in all reality is nothing close to a baby and in fact having a baby of her own – read my story. I wanted an opinion. I know most people are like, oh my Goodness, not family opinions. What they do not know about my sister, is that she enjoys the misery of others. If my book sucks. She will not hesitate for a second to let me know. In fact she would most likely deliver her opinion on a jagged edged poisoned plate. Fact one. I trust her. I value her input. She is the most honest person I know. Grant you at this moment, she has only seen a part of it, not it as in entirety. The fact however is, she wants more. She wants the whole thing.  Which of course she can have once I publish it and it is up for sale.

Life has been so crazy lately you guys. I have been through things “Just” this week alone that had me pulling my hair out, begging for a lobotomy. ANYTHING, to stop the madness. I have come to the conclusion, that some people in my life are just not good for me.  Some situations seemed to be draining my very soul. Also came to the conclusion that I just can’t do it anymore. I can’t keep dealing with the negativity I was surrounding myself in.

I am focused now. FIRST, all the stuff I mentioned above. Next, continue my writing. Maybe even spring clean the house, seeing how it is now officially spring. I also can’t forget to make those candles that were ordered. Those are a deadline. I can’t forget that deadline.

I know I say that there has been a lot going on, and I give hints at what. But it’s not something I can share in a whole. People that are involved, secrets within, so many different dimensions to the situation, that sharing would just make a sticky mess.

Some stuff though, some of the positives I am focusing on. My sister is about to have a baby. A little boy. I am super stoked about that. I get to take pictures of her water birth. So long as that baby waits till Tuesday when I get there to come out.

I finished my book “Freddy the frog” Which I mentioned in my last post. I really am a terrible drawer. However, that being said. The illustrations are coming out quite cute. I am happy with it. I have twelve more pictures to go and then I will have to figure out how to insert them into kindle ebook format. That will probably be a lot harder than thought. But I found this book by R. Scot Johns that looks promising in the ability to help me out with that. So I bought it instantly and plan on reading it in the car. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D0HWJI6/ref=oh_d__o00_details_o00__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fertilizer is coming along. I am in the write the blurb stage. I didn’t realize that writing a blurb could be almost harder than writing the book. It is hard to write something to pull the reader in, without giving it completely away. I have written more drafts of the blurb than I have the book. I am determined to get it right though. It is what it is, you know?

I am seriously determined to make today better than yesterday. I never knew the extent of how badly someone could disappoint you till then. Never knew how ashamed I could feel to be apart of something. Let's just say, Some people, just can't be saved. They do not realize how wrong they are. They are stuck in their own delusions. It's like that saying. "You can't fix stupid." I am trying my best not to dwell on this, and fueling my thoughts with the taste of donuts. I will regret that. I have had like 8 mini donuts.

 

The picture you see, is what I am thinking of putting on my author page. I don't really know what an author picture is supposed to look like. So it is what it is. You know :) Any thoughts on what it should be?

 

Alrighty, I have procrastinated a good deal this morning. So I guess getting my tush in gear is what's needed. Sigh, If only procrastination was rewards with maids and people to rub your feet. Have a great day you guys. xxDee

 

 

Taking Things Into My Own Hands

Hey you guys, Long time no type. "But I am here now."

Honestly, I just got swept away from life and the drama that comes with it. This, and that ... and everything in between seemed to pop up and rear its head. I feel like I put my life on hold for awhile there. I stopped doing anything that mattered to me. I quit blogging, quit writing in general, quit taking photographs, quit everything that brought joy to my life. I don't know what happened. However I am slowly putting things back, rearranging the importance of what I need, what I want, and what I can certainly do without so I don't find myself back into this slump.

Which brings me to .... WRITING!

My whole life I have wanted to be a writer.  Recently, I finished my first book "A children's story" (Freddy the frog *Finding friends*) I gathered up the courage and sent it in to Boyds mills press. They say that it could take up to 3 months to hear back from them, and it has only been one. Still I am restless on it. If they are going to accept it or reject it, I simply want it done sooner so I can move on.

The fear of rejection began setting in, and I decided to look for alternates. I wrote this story for my kids, and to me ... If it didn't sell, that was fine. As long as I could buy at least one copy for them to hold in their hands. On my search I came across *AMAZON!* and their KDP program. Where you can basically self publish, FREE! Which the picture you see attached to this post is the cover for my First short story ever *Fertilizer* Which I am putting the last touches on now, and plan on publishing in the next few days. I have to give most of the credit of that cover to the KDP community who helped me fix my first attempt at the cover. I owe having an awesome cover to their input and ideas. I am truly thankful for the kindness they shared in their help, that they were under no obligation to do so.

Either way ... I am going to do it. I am just going to write, and put it out for the world to see. If people love it, or hate it. At least I will have done it. Not just sat around wondering what could be but rather getting it out there and finding out what is. I am actually really excited.

I also started illustrating Freddy, and am almost completely done with the pictures for it. STUCK THOUGH on how to figure out how to format it so that the pictures and text are on the same page (Anyone out there reading this have a clue?) I figure there are plenty of ebooks that will tell me exactly how that I can buy and learn from.
CREATESPACE will let me put it in print too!

Needless to say, I am putting the fait of my writing into my own hands. Cutting out the middle man (publishers) I am making my dreams come true, instead of taking the many NO's  I have heard along the way.

I am nervous though on one point. The fact that my books range in all sorts of category. I do not just write for one age group. I don't just write horror/thriller. Sometimes it's a children's book. Sometimes its lovey dovey or death ridden. But then again, maybe that's not so bad. I can reach more than one type of reader. A mom who likes thrillers could come across my book while looking for something for her child to read.

I can not guarantee that everyone is going to like me as a writer, But I can hope to touch a few.
Have a great day everyone
xxDee