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