Thursday 13: Go Get' em Goals Pre-NaNo

Well it's that time of year. The countdown to NaNo has begun. I know not everyone does this crazed writer thing, but since I'm always up for a challenge I work it into my schedule. So here's 13 goals I need to accomplish before November 1st so  I can throw myself into my NaNo project.

1.) Finish current WIP. (Book 2 in my Blackridges Series.) I need about 13 thousand words to reach my goal. This wip has been moving slow, but it's good.

2.) Clean and organize my office. (This is a must do! If my kids or husband don't know what to do with something it ends up on my desk.)

3.) Clean pantry and fridge.

4.) Plan a months worth of dinners so I don't have to keep running to the store.

5.) Stock pantry and fridge. (Going for healthy snacks for me and easy fixings for the kids.)

6.) Work out a firm writing schedule, especially for Friday and Saturdays. (I have my nieces and nephew for bowling.) And let everyone know what it is.

7.) Make a mock cover for inspiration. (Well, I'm going to ask my daughter to do this for me.)

8.) Have promo ready for Book releasing on October 24th. (Pic to the right.)

9.) Get Christmas contest ready for launch on November 15th-ish.
10.) Make a playlist for my NaNo story.

11.)Write out basic chapter points for NaNo story12.)Get my blog post topics picked for the month so I can be ready for quick post.13.) Read 2 books not in my genres to clear my head. I think I'm going to go for an action and a mystery.


So who is doing NaNo? When are you going to start prepping? Am I alone in my craziness?


Interested in seeing what other people are thinking about this Thursday go to http://thursday-13.com/  and check them out.

Seekonk Speedway Pumpkin Smashing Race

Okay loaded the pictures from Sunday October 14th's race on my facebook page go check them out. Here's  a quick break down of how it went. Rainy morning turned into fabulous day. They had all the cars and trucks decorated for Halloween, including David's, on the track and let everyone go down and walk around to check them out. Dave's was a big hit, especially with the kids. They also had the kids go around and trick or treat to track workers and concession stands. Sugar rush to fuel the day. David got his truck there and on the track for judging, but when they came off to go to the drivers meeting his fuel pump went. So unfortunately he didn't get to race. Everyone was bummed, but we all still managed to have a great day. Good news truck will be ready for the first race in spring 2013. Of course it'll have a new paint job.

My Newest Release is Available Now.

To Protect the Heart of a Brazen Woman (MF)

Brazen Sisters 6
Is available now, and it's being offered at a 15% discount. Offer ends midnight CST, October 2nd.

Sheriff Jake Gurion has been fighting his attraction to Bobbie Brazen since she started teasing him six years ago. She’s young and beautiful and way too tempting, so he’s careful not to spend too much time alone with her.

Now, a criminal Jake put away has escaped. No one knows where she is, but she’s left messages saying Jake would pay, starting with his pretty little plaything. He’s not about to let anyone he loves get hurt, including Bobbie. Now he can’t avoid being alone with Bobbie any more than he can stop breathing.

Bobbie’s furious that Jake had used her age as a reason for them not to get involved for years, but while she was out of town he dated a woman only two years older than her. He expects her to just go hide away with him alone until the madwoman making threats is caught. Bobbie plans to use this time to teach him a few lessons.

Other books in the Brazen Sisters Series

A Brazen Love Worth Fighting For- Brazen Sisters 1

Jessie Brazen fell hard for Victor Weatherly, hard enough to marry him during a short whirlwind romance. Then everything fell apart and he left. Now, after a three year separation, Jessie decides the best thing for everyone involved is to let him go... MORE

To Unleash a Brazen Desire-

Brazen Sisters 2

Samantha Brazen’s world is spinning out of control. She’d finally dumped her cheating boyfriend. Then her brother-in-law, Trent, blows into town sweeping her off her feet. Trent tears out of town just as quickly, leaving her to wonder what, if anything... MORE

Stroking a Brazen Lust-

Brazen Sisters 3

Francesca Brazen is working the night shift when her brother-in-law’s sexy foreman checks into the lodge. She has trouble hiding her interest in him. Can she get involved with a man she doesn’t know? After finding him naked in the hall, she’s will... MORE

Uncommonly Brazen-

Brazen Sisters 4

Josephine Brazen is the best CPA around, but even she may not be able to help Cameron Elwood out of the mess he’s in. Reluctantly, she takes him on as a client. Cameron pushes her buttons, driving her to distraction. He makes her want to do things she... MORE

Deliberately Brazen (MF)-

Brazen Sisters 5

Georgina Brazen is hiking along a trail that skirts the lake and finds a man staring out over the water. He’s tall and ruggedly handsome, and she finds herself compelled to introduce herself. After all, she figures if you’re wondering what a man... MORE

Thursday 13: Optimism

Feeling a bit optimistic today so I thought I'd share a symbol of this for everyone to see. My niece Britt loves elephants. 

 She has collected dozens of them.

From what I've heard

if the elephants trunk

is up it's a symbol of good luck,

fortune,

and optimism.

 So here are 13 signs of:

 Stability

 Patience

Honor

 

     

Strength

Thursday: 13 Highlights From AADNOLA 2013

Why is I want to start every blog post with the word OKAY?

Well (hahaha, that isn't much better) I went to New Orleans for Authors After Dark. It was my first time being there, but not at AAD. I've gone to AAD in NJ, Philly, NOLA, and in Savannah for AAD2013. I'm really looking forward to it. Why? Well it's awesome! But as and author we're told to show not tell, so let me show you what I mean.

Seeing authors at the booksigning. Here's Melissa Shroeder

Seeing authors at panels. Adrian Pheonix, Sasha White, Alison Pang,
Dakota Cassidy, Judi Fennell, CJ Ellison. If you ever get a chance to
sit in on a panel with Dakota don't miss it!



Beautiful table with awesome prizes, and books.




Dancing.



Dessert.

More dancing.

Zombies drinking fishbowls.

Even had fun talking to other attendees while waiting to get into events.

 

Always love seeing Diana Castilleja



Brandy Walker won my charity raffle basket including the fabulous show girl cow.



Talking about Men In Uniform with Cat Johnson, Melissa Schroeder, Lacie Nation,
Kris Norris, Katie Reus, Delilah Devlin was awesome.



Meeting readers who actually know what you write and like it. Priceless. Thanks Jackie!



Exploring new places.

So to wrap up my Thursday 13 if you're looking for a fun convention where you can party with readers, authors, and even a few crazy zombies check out Authors After Dark

Lots To Do

Scehdule for this week is bit full, but I will get it all done by next Sunday since I'm leaving next Monday night for Authors After Dark in New Orleans.

So on my to do list is:

Shopping for stuff for my charity raffle basket.

Making potato corn chowder and Beef Barley soup (beef soup was good).

Design and make 200 keychains for promo at AAD.

Need to get my hair trimmed and maybe nails done.

Need to finalize my list and pack everything.

Finish up August interview for my Local Pens collumn for the Worcester Magazine.

Either submit this story or decide to use it as a freebie (story subbed).

Add at least another 10k on my current WIP.

Get some promo done for The Way He Looks At Me.
Go to Lab Saturday morning for more blood work.
Sunday the family is going to Monster Trucks at Seekonk Speedway.

Manic Monday

Today started off like crap and steadily got worse. The roofers started banging at 7 am, as they have for the past week including Saturday and Sunday. The electrician turned the power off to do the much needed upgrade to the system around 9am. At close to 2 in the afternoon my son and I couldn't take it anymore, no fans= hot house.

So since my hubs had my car my mom came over and rescued us. Now this is subjective, because her house is FULL of my nieces and nephews. 12 of them to be exact, ages 3 thru 15. I think we would have been fine, and even had some fun. BUT!

We weren't there for a half hour when my daughter called. Her car lost its wheel as she exited the toll booth on the MassTurnpike. Lost as in it fell off and rolled away. Luckily no one was hurt. Her, her brother, and their friends probably had a good scare thought. The studs that hold wheel on broke off. My hubby's ex-boss sent out a tow-truck asap and my sister and I drove to pick them up and bring them home.

3 hours later everyone was home safe and sound, the car was tucked away at the shop awaiting my husband to repair it in the morning.

There was a highlight to the day. My sister cooked awesome steaks on the grill for everyone. I whipped together the salad. Now I'm home and catching up on some TV and hoping to get some writing done.

Thursday Thirteen A Trip to Ikea

Today's Thursday 13 is brought to us by IKEA. Okay by my kids who wanted to go to IKEA. Mind you the closest IKEA to us is an hour away.

 This is just one of the fabouls kitchen designs the have.

 Now here are a few things I spotted that I'd like to have for my office

 

Good for an in and out mail tray


 

You can insert any art or pics you want into

this film reel.



 

Magnest boards are cool and usefull



 

I've been looking for one of these to sort printed
manuscripts and ideas by importance or
status of completion



 These scales are funky, but I'd rather not have them anywhere near me or my office. Have to admit I tried the red one. Hopefully it lies.

Just a few more things that caught my eye.



Cute hook for hanging stuff



My nieces and nephews would get a kick out of these too.

 

Cute light, but I think it might
distract me



How could I not notice this?

And at the end it was this that showed me IKEA

has a sense of humor.



So IKEA had more to show, but alas my camera died. So for my thirteenth thing picture me eating the piece of cake. Thanks for stopping by and check out these other

Thursday Thirteens