My husband and I are currently looking to purchase a home. I'd been through this once before, with the ex, and I'd forgotten just how much I hated looking for homes then, not because of him, but because of the constant build up and subsequent let down.

We found a home that we really liked, at least from the pictures provided, and from the information it had everything we wanted. However, upon arrival, it was clear the house was in some need of repair - mostly minor - but enough to make it to my 'not a big fan' list. The second home that we went to see wasn't any better. In fact, it was worse, and went from the 'not a big fan' to 'this is surely a money pit and No. Just No!' list.

I think we're going to be in for a lot of frustration and disappointment before we can find something we really like. We're limited by our income, as well as what we want from a home. I just hope that we find something sooner than later. I'm looking forward to having a crafting space I can reliably use, so that I can continue to work on my home business.

But, for now, Meh. Just Meh. I hate shopping, even for houses.

My friend, Stephanie Dray, has written a historical fiction continuity book with several amazing authors revolving around stories on the fateful day the volcano at Pompeii exploded. Please consider reading her book - and please read below.

At long last, this riveting story about the final days of Pompeii is available in e-book and print!

“This truly is the finest book I have read this year, an emotional roller-coaster that educates while it entertains. Its impact will stay with me for quite some time.” ~Parmenion Books

“Despite knowing what happens in Pompeii and to the majority of its citizens, A Day of Fire is a book full of suspense, fear, and unexpected bravery.” ~Ageless Pages

“I can’t praise this book highly enough. It’s a rattling good tale of disaster, death, resolution and rebirth.” ~Dodging Arrows

“I LOVED this! The writing style, the choice of stories told, the evolution of characters, the drama. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.” ~The Maiden’s Court

"Each one of these authors deserves a huge amount of praise for putting this impressive piece of art together.” ~Steven McKay

DESCRIPTION:

Pompeii was a lively resort flourishing in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius at the height of the Roman Empire. When Vesuvius erupted in an explosion of flame and ash, the entire town would be destroyed. Some of its citizens died in the chaos, some escaped the mountain's wrath . . . and these are their stories:

A boy loses his innocence in Pompeii's flourishing streets.
An heiress dreads her wedding day, not knowing it will be swallowed by fire.
An ex-legionary stakes his entire future on a gladiator bout destined never to be finished.
A crippled senator welcomes death, until a tomboy on horseback comes to his rescue.
A young mother faces an impossible choice for her unborn child as the ash falls.
A priestess and a whore seek redemption and resurrection as the town is buried.

Six authors bring to life overlapping stories of patricians and slaves, warriors and politicians, villains and heroes who cross each others' path during Pompeii's fiery end. But who will escape, and who will be buried for eternity?

Buy Now:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

This month has been an ordeal of topsy-turvy ups and downs, not just because we've got kids now but also because I've been going through a slew of medical tests. In a routine follow up with my doctor last month, it was determined that I needed to see a few specialists for some pain that I'd been having in my lower right abdomen. ( To read more click here.Collapse )

Blarg. I feel like I need to make an official blog post - the rambling kind that I tend to do. There are a great many things that have been happening lately that I want to talk about them all, but first I must work out the logistics of doing this.

But, I can give some nitty gritty details, so people are aware of what's going on with me in general.

My brother in law passed away on September 27th. He left behind three very wonderful children that my husband and I are now caring for. There's been lots of change, and adjustment, for everyone. They've had to move schools, we've had to make room for them in our very tiny house. We've been having some growing pains, as my husband, the children and I all try to figure out how we fit together as a family, but so far they've been pretty minor.

Because of this, my online presence has dropped next to nothing. That doesn't mean I'm not around, and won't be around. I still check in with all the places that where I have some commitments. It just means that my check ins are more brief as I try to find a way to balance everything to meet the needs of the kids vs my online commitments. It may take a few more weeks yet, before I find that balance. Please be patient. Especially those folks on Firan who were not aware of my situation and are now reading this.

We have been surrounded by an overwhelming number of people who have offered their support and help, and for that we're both very grateful. In time, we'll likely take people up on their offers. In the meantime, we're working through the adjustments slowly and steadily, tackling one thing at a time.

And, that's the short and the sweet of it for now.

Originally posted by mindyklasky at Writing From the Ground Up

This will be a series of posts about the various books that I've read this year:

1. SONG OF THE NILE, by Stephane Dray
2. IT STINGS SO SWEET, by Stephanie Draven
3. STOLEN, by Kelley Armstrong
4. BITTEN, by Kelley Armstrong
5. DIME STORE MAGIC, by Kelley Armstrong
6. INDUSTRIAL MAGIC, by Kelley Armstrong
7. HAUNTED, by Kelley Armstrong
8. THE VAMPIRE DIAIRIES: THE SALVATION: UNSEEN, created by L.J. Smith, written by Aubrey Clark

There are more, I just have to go through my bookshelf to remember which ones I read after Christmas :)

I've decided to switch LJ back to being a paid account. I've debated back and forth whether to do this, and I think in the end I'll be happier for it - especially as I have anonymous comments turned off again and I'm foiling the damnable bots. I may consider adding a capchtca in order to foil them further (if that even works.) And, since I've paid I intend to start using LJ more frequently of late.

In other news, since I have no coming obligations in July (that I'm aware of as of writing this), I have decided that July will be my NaNoWriMo. November is just too filled with family obligations, and now an anniversary, for me to settle down and officially write for that month. So, for me it with be NaJulWriMo. I know, I know, it doesn't roll off the tongue like NaNoWriMo, but one must make the best out of one's situation, and this is my effort.

Now, I've got to start plotting all those delightful ideas that keep popping up when I'm driving down the road on the way home from work, and choose one of them to write on (or finish, oh Pirate Princess book - one day, one day you will be complete, and then stuffed away from all the world to see.)

Have once more been disabled due to damn spambots.

So I have an idea for a new story. The problem is I haven't finished my first story, and I have another story backburnered to be written as well. This one, I think, would be easy for me to write. I have a working title and the names of the major characters. Names are important to me.

However, I don't want to write anything else until I finish the first story - to prove I can finish something. I think that's important. I need to figure out how to work time for that into my schedule. A workday is a 13 hour experience for me - from the time I wake up and go until the time I get home. I'm exhausted by the time I get home, and have just enough time for dinner and something else that might relax me, before rinse and repeat.

I get an hour for lunch at work, so I've been toying with the idea of bringing my computer to work with me to get some writing done then, since I do not use the whole hour to eat. The time I spend watching television on the iPhone or reading a book while at lunch could be put to better use. I could also put myself on a complete blackout from the internet, especially if I go out to eat lunch, by not bringing my iPhone with me to connect. It's extreme, but it might take an extreme measure for me to kick myself into gear.

The other thing I considered doing is just giving myself 15-30 minutes a day to write in general and setting a timer for it.

These are the things I'm presently pondering.

What suggestions do you have for time management?

The rains that we have had are a perfect metaphor, because I'm sinking. I've been draggin' my feet on making this post for so many reasons, primarily because I know so many of you are hurting, too. Here it is, at the prompting of cathouse_mary

First, I'll cut to the chase because I'm that kind of person. As some of you know, my boss ran out of money earlier in the month because his clients have not been paying him(he is( The times, they suck!Collapse )