Endings

As the saying goes, "Sooner or later, all things must end" and here we are - near the end of the year - and at the end of my blog...  

Yes, this is it.  My final post.

Okay, not really.  Just the last one of 2013. 
Admit it, I scared you there for a minute! 

The Holidays are upon us and everyone is busy; shopping, baking, decorating, wrapping, getting together with family and friends.  So rather than bog myself down with even more work, I'm calling it quits until next year!

It's certainly been a busy year for me; one that will probably never be duplicated again, at least not in the way of publications. (5 books in one year!) Whew!

My Ravenswynd Series is finished; starting in March, I published a book every 3 months.  It was a lot of work, a bit of head-banging frustration, but it was worth it.  I'm happy it's finally finished and "out there" for the world to see (and hopefully enjoy).

I've gotten several great reviews which you can see on Amazon and/or Goodreads, and I've posted a few of them here on my blog under the heading "Reviews" (Catchy title-huh?)

And somewhere in there (if I remember correctly, it was October) I also published my first time-travel novel! River of Time.  I'm sure you've seen all of my books...over and over...and then some. (Sorry about that...but, self-publishing means self-promoting.  Please don't hate me.)

I've also updated another page here - where all 5 of my videos are posted for your viewing pleasure. (Well at least I hope you like them) You can find them under the tab called Book-trailers (Go figure)

What's on the list for next year, you ask? (I heard something)*

Lots of writing...lots of editing...and if I'm lucky, perhaps I'll even manage to publish (finally) my very first novel. (Yes! In between promoting and publishing, I've been editing it!)  It's a contemporary romance -  (Imagine that, not even a hint of paranormal this time!)  I still don't have a title pinned down for this one; I usually call it Jack and Sara whenever I'm talking about it.  I was leaning towards calling it "One Memory at a Time" but since I really didn't want this one getting mixed in with my time-travel books... perhaps I shall re-think the title.  (What do you all think? Is that title too close to the others?)

The others: 
I'm also working on two more time-travel novels. Garden of Time: about a woman who gets hurled back into the late 1800's, and another, tentatively titled Island of Time, about a woman, a man and a wolf - which I'm writing with my mother.  Fun times indeed.

So, I bid you adieu, farewell, and adios.  Until next year.  After all the decorations are put away, and all the wrapping paper thrown out, and all the leftovers are eaten. And not one minute sooner.  

Oh, I'll still be on facebook posting non-stop about my books.  Never fear, you can't get rid of me that easily! 

Thanks for reading!
Have a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful New Year!

*Reference to a Seinfeld episode 
   (A show, in my opinion, that should never have ended!)

Merry Christmas!

December is such a busy month...so busy...and there is no time to do a real blog. (I seriously do not understand how anyone else out there finds the time to blog more often than once a week and still keep up with everything else, especially just before the holidays.) So, in light of my busyness...

I thought I'd put a short excerpt here from Ravenswynd...and if anyone is interested in reading more, you can check out the Excerpts page above!  

I'm a little over halfway through the final edits. (669 pages: 210,527 words)

Please let me know what you think!

From chapter 12: The Calm Before the Storm

...I called down the stairs, “Is it okay if I check out the veranda?”
   “Of course. Take your time; I am not quite ready yet.” I could hear the smile in his voice. 

  I set my purse down on the table, taking some time to smell the roses. Their delicate sweet fragrance reminded me a velvety-fresh spring morning. I inhaled again, enjoying the deliciousness of the moment. Upon opening the glass door, a cool breeze drifted in; not at all like our freezing wind earlier in the week. I was flushed from the wine and heat of the fireplace... and the air felt refreshing on my warm face. I stepped through the door into the night. Bright light from the full moon fell on an angle between the trees, lighting up a small section of the veranda. As I peered over the railing, and looked down, I found that our suite appeared to be the highest point of the building. Far below, a few individuals strolled through the garden pathways, though they looked quite small from this vantage point, appearing to be nothing more than shadows moving among the trees and bushes. I glanced back up into the sky as a thin cloud passed over the moon, making it appear hazy. As the cloud moved away, it left a pale, thin ring circling around it. I marveled at how visible the night sky was here. With no buildings or street lights nearby, the stars sparkled brilliantly like a million pieces of glitter tossed across a huge black canvas. Some of them shone steady and clear, and others blurry and winking. I spotted the constellation of Orion. The distinct row of the three brightest stars of his belt made it easy for me to find. I leaned over the railing and glanced down again taking in a deep breath. A soft breeze billowed through my hair, clean and crisp, bringing along the scent of fallen leaves sprinkled with dampness. These aromas mingled with the fragrance of the flowers from below and the candles burning behind me through the open door. I took another breath, sighing softly. It was a beautiful autumn night. I was unbelievably relaxed. The calmness I felt now was quite unexpected and completely amazed me since I knew full well: this was the last day of my life...

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Thanks for reading...and don't forget to check out the excerpt page above for more bits of my story. 

And in case I continue to find myself too busy to blog this month, I hope you all have a very