Reading Update and Exercising

Exercising sucks! Unfortunately, it’s an evil necessity for me since I’m not an active person naturally.

I don’t mind walking, though. That’s fun. But not so fun when the temps drop. Then it makes me miserable (I hate being cold). Why’d we pick to live in Ohio? Oh yeah… it’s cheap here. Well, cheaper than California.

So last year I took up step aerobics during the cold weather. Which led me to realize I needed my heart valve fixed, but we know how that ended up. So far. Anyway, I pulled out the step a couple of weeks ago. Figured it was better to exercise a little than not at all (I don’t even bother putting in the risers—I can’t handle them anyway).

But now I hurt. I think I pulled a muscle in my thigh. This is what I get for all that walking? Step aerobics is way more strenuous than walking, but you couldn’t tell that from my Fitbit. Ugh.

Yeah, exercise sucks. But I need it in my life. So I hope my thigh feels better soon. I can’t afford to be away from exercising for very long. Otherwise, I may never start up again.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 51

Dates read: October 28-November 5, 2021
Title: Driven
Year of publication: 2021
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Romantic suspense
Series: Deep Ops #4
# of Pages: 379
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: Angus Force is determined to hunt down the serial killer he’d once shot dead—or so he thought. But an anonymous source reports that Lassiter is alive. Force hasn’t slept since, knowing it’s only a matter of time before “The Surgeon” strikes again. And soon, a body is found, bearing Lassiter’s same maniacal MO. It’s just the beginning of a murderous trail blazing through DC and Virginia, right to Force’s backyard…
    Nari Zhang is the shrink for the ragtag Deep Ops Unit, though she isn’t Force’s shrink—which is a very good thing. Because once they’re thrown together on the case, their attraction is explosive and irresistible. They’ll just have to fight that much harder to keep the heat between them from flaming out of control. But things are about to become far more challenging, and deadly, than they could have imagined…
    Once the killer catches a glimpse of Nari, she becomes his new obsession. She is now the focus point—for both Force and Lassiter—in a dangerous dance for survival…
My thoughts: Oooh, nice twist at the end. Great romantic suspense. I really like this series.

So… how do you keep fit in cold weather? Do you bother? I miss my old fitness center, but it got bought out by a larger company and it’s just not the same anymore so I didn’t bother renewing my membership (not that they contacted me and asked me to). I also moved farther away, so there’s that, too. Yes, I can be THAT lazy.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update, an Injury, and an Online Class

Well… my walking came to a stand-still (haha, see what I did there?). I apparently pushed myself too far and pulled something in my hip area. I’m resting it and using Arnica cream to help with the pain (it’s working). Of course, the last couple of mornings have been wonderfully cool and dry and I couldn’t go out and enjoy it. Not the way I wanted to, anyway.

I wish I knew what I did. I don’t walk THAT fast! And I stretch after every walk, too (have to or I’ll get cramps and that’s no fun!). So hopefully later this week I’ll give walking another try (slowly and not as far). But then the humidity is due back, too. Figures, huh?

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #27

Dates read: July 6 – 12
Title: Inherit Truth
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Alicia Anthony
Genre: Psychic Suspense
Series: Blood Secrets #1
# of Pages: 302
Paper or plastic: Nook
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book:. When Liv Sullivan’s dead grandmother beckons for help from beyond the grave, the reluctant psychic is forced back to her small Ohio hometown. Scrambling to make sense of her grandmother’s legacy, Liv finds herself face to face with undercover Agent Ridge McCaffrey.
     Assigned to protect the woman whose gifts unnerve him, all for a covert psychic intelligence operation he doesn’t understand, Ridge struggles to place duty over desire. But when a body is found at Sullivan Farm and Liv’s allegiance is called into question, Ridge’s mission becomes clear.
    Can Liv unearth family secrets that are best left buried before the ghosts of her past destroy her dreams of a normal future?
My thoughts: I really thought my issue with this book would be because her point of view was written in first person and his was written in third (I really don’t like it when authors do that). Instead, my mistake was thinking this was a romantic suspense (I had to look up categories on Amazon after I read it to see where it fit). If I had gone into reading this with that information, maybe I wouldn’t have any problems. So if you’re looking for a romantic suspense, you won’t find it here because there is no HEA (happy ever after) or even a HFN (happy for now) at the end of this book. The story isn’t over, either. Yep. Cliffhanger. Big time, too. I’m not happy. So while I can’t recommend it to romance readers, suspense readers may enjoy this kind of series. Just make sure you have all three books to read before you start on the first because I’m guessing the second will also end with a cliffhanger.

For all you writers out there: My RWA chapter, COFW (Central Ohio Fiction Writers), is offering the following online class for the month of August (it’s all done in groups.io). You don’t have to write romance or belong to RWA to benefit.

This August, COFW is offering a class from Linnea Sinclair! CHARACTERIZATION: MAKING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES WORK FOR YOU (or No More Mary Sues!)

Down with one-dimensional cartoon-like characters! Down with the two-dimensional ones, while we’re at it. Embrace your characters—warts and all—in this lively workshop with Bantam author Linnea Sinclair. Reviewers note that: “Her characters are intelligent, no-nonsense and have a depth that gives me an instant mental picture...” (Road to Romance Reviews) and “The author's sure hand with characterization makes each twist of this emotionally laden storyline as suspenseful as any well-wrought battle scene.” (Science Fiction Weekly)

Sinclair will help writers dialogue with their characters to bring out information that builds depth and uniqueness. She’ll also discuss the pros and cons of using archetypes, astrology and tarot to build story people.

About the instructor: Winner of the prestigious national book award, the RITA®, science fiction romance author Linnea Sinclair has become a name synonymous for high-action, emotionally intense, character-driven novels.

Sign up at cofwevents.org/classes. Price as follows: COFW Members, $25; RWA Members, $30; Non-members, $35.

This is a great deal and I can attest that Linnea’s classes are AWESOME. I’ve learned so much from her.

My birthday is Saturday (Happy Birthday to me!!!) and we’re meeting friends and family at a park for a picnic (keeping our distance and ordering takeout). We found a covered picnic area with plenty of seating, but with the temps forecasted for the low 90s, I hope we don’t melt. Although, if I melted off some fat, maybe I wouldn’t complain.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and a Foot Update

A new year and a new goal. I decided to go with 93 as my reading goal. I’ll try to make sure my average page count goes up, too. Unless I get desperate there at the end, then…forget it! J Here’s what I read this week:

Jan 5: “Fatal Secrets” by Allison Brennan, second book in the FBI trilogy, a romantic suspense at 428 pages. Blurb from book: When a top lieutenant in a notorious ring of human traffickers agrees to turn state’s evidence, Immigration and Customs Enforcement senior agent Sonia Knight believe she’ll finally take down the illegal operation’s devilish mastermind, Xavier Jones. But when an FIB sting on Jones’s criminal enterprise collides with an ICE stakeout, Sonia is enraged: Her informant’s life and her evidence are in grave jeopardy. FBI agent Dean Hooper has been chasing Jones for years on money-laundering and tax-evasion charges and doesn’t need or want a hot-headed ICE agent second-guessing his every move. When the Bureau is ordered to join forces with ICE, Sonia is just as livid: Her job is to save lives, not money. But their team effort pays off as fierce mutual resentment fades and passion flares—along with risk. For Jones is just one piece of a deprave puzzle, answering to an even more dangerous predator. Denied his expected prey, this pitiless fiend intends to make Sonia and Dean pay with their own blood. I stayed on the bike until I finished this (I had about 30-some pages left to read at the time), which should tell you something since I hate riding that thing! I was a little worried at the beginning of this book, thinking this would be an “I-hate-you-I love-you” kind of couple, but it wasn’t. Yeah, there’s some friction at the beginning, but only because they don’t know one another, so no hate involved. Yay! (I really don’t like couples who hate each other in the beginning. Annoyed is okay, but not hate. Hate is very hard to overcome. I don’t care who you are). There’s also lots of suspense in this. Really, the perfect read for me (as her other books have been, too).

So far my foot is on the mend; it’s getting easier to walk on it. I’ve been riding the bike as a warm up to my exercises and I may stick to that all week just to be on the safe side. Plus, I’ve been doing the strengthening exercises the physical therapist said I should do.

I’ve been surprised that the fitness center hasn’t been all that busy this week. Of course, I get there at 6:30am. It’s probably packed after 5:00pm. So glad I can go in the morning.

So… Have you taken down your holiday decorations yet? Mine are still up. Maybe I’ll get to it today since I doubt I get any writing done anyway. I have to take a trip to Springfield to meet the former treasurer of COFW (Central Ohio Fiction Writers—a local chapter of RWA) so she can pass on the responsibilities. Yep. I’m the new treasurer. J

Happy Reading!

Stacy

I’m Sick and Tired of Getting Hurt!!

Two weeks ago, I went to the physical therapist and was given some exercises to do to strengthen my knee. On Wednesday I went there for a follow-up and was given additional exercises. By Wednesday evening, I had trouble walking on my left foot. Really? I expected if I was to have ANY pain, it would be in my knee!! I have absolutely no idea what I did to my foot, either.

Why? Why? Why? I’m trying so hard NOT to get hurt. I just don’t understand. I swear, I feel doomed to exercise.

I think I might have plantar fasciitis, except the pain is on the back of my heel and it hurts the most when I’m lifting/bending the foot while walking (I’ve had plantar fasciitis before, but the pain was on the ball of my foot and hurt when I put pressure ON it). By Sunday evening it was getting a little better, but I have a feeling I’ll be warming up on the bike this morning before my exercise routine. I will exercise, though. I work on the upper body on Mondays. Maybe by Tuesday I’ll be able to work on the legs without much (or any) pain.

I can only hope. This is such a hard time of year for me to exercise anyway. I have a feeling the fitness center will be busy (all those New Year’s resolutions), which tends to keep me away. But I want to overcome that. Then there’s the winter weather. It hasn’t snowed yet, but I tend to not go when it does. I want to overcome that, too.

Injuries, though… How can I overcome that? Especially when I don’t feel like I did anything to hurt myself. Ugh.

On a happy note, I finished watching “Gotham” on Saturday. I really enjoyed Season 1. Don’t know when I’ll get to Season 2, but it’s on the DVR waiting to be watched. I may watch it with my daughter, since Hubby starts teaching on Thursday nights again next week. But if she’d rather watch “Supernatural” (we’re on Season 9—and I got her Season 10 for Christmas), then I’ll just watch them on my own. Editing will come first though. It has to! I have a deadline to meet.

So… Are you sad you have to go back to work today? I’m not. I’m actually looking forward to getting back into Ghostly Interlude. I love my job! J

Enjoy!

Stacy

I Did It, My Afghan, and Pills

Well… I did it. I entered Blind Temptation in the Judge a Book By Its Cover contest (in the paranormal category). We’ll see how it does. Once I’m informed that it’s up for the online voting portion (it has two: online and judges), I’ll post the link here. You know, in case you WANT to vote for little ol’ me. The judged portion is completely separate from the online portion, but I wouldn’t mind winning either. Okay, I do mind. I want to win the judged portion so my cover will show up in the ad in the RWR (Romance Writers Report—the magazine RWA sends out to their members). Why else enter, right?

Of those that commented on Monday’s post, no one knew what design is on the afghan that shows up in my tree picture. Here’s a better picture of it (should be able to enlarge it by clicking on it). Do you see the kitty cats?

 

I had made this afghan for my mother-in-law (many, many years ago). When she passed (in 2001), I made sure to get it back (since her stuff was being given away). I love that thing. Hopefully she did too.

I saw my physician assistant (PA) yesterday and got that referral for physical therapy. He also suggested I take glucosamine chondroitin, to help with the cartilage (or lack thereof) in my knee. I have a feeling one of these days I’m going to be taking just as many pills as my hubby does. Except mine will all be supplements.

Have I ever mentioned I hate swallowing pills? Ugh.

I’m already taking iron, calcium, and vitamin D. I was taking magnesium, but I think that was the cause of my stomach problems (they have since ended since I stopped taking the pill—a pretty good indicator if you ask me). I know I wouldn’t have to take all those pills if I ate right, and maybe one day I will, but until that day…I’ll stick with the supplements.

Tomorrow night hubby and I will be taking my son’s girlfriend and her daughter to the Madrigal Dinner (held each year at Wright State University). Why aren’t we taking my son? Well… He and daughter are performing as dancers (son used to be part of the choir when he attended the college and before that he was one of the trumpet players). It’s a nice Christmas party. Lots of music, singing, and dancing (performance, not participatory). All the participants are dressed in madrigal style (1500s?) garments, and the food’s not so bad, either. We’ve been going since 2000 (man, that’s a long time!). Sure, it’s the same food and usually the same skits, but it’s a fun time, plus I like seeing my kids in action.

So… What are you up to this weekend? Shopping? Parties? Whatever, have a great one!

Stacy

I Need Advice

I plan to enter the contest, Judge a Book by Its Cover. It’s run by the Houston Bay Area Chapter of RWA.

This is the cover I’m entering:

 

I can only enter it in one category and I’m torn between two: Science fiction/Fantasy/Paranormal or Sexiest Cover. Which one do you think it would have a better chance of winning?

I’ve entered this contest the past two years (My Sunny Vampire and Bite Me, I’m Yours) without much luck. Maybe this year will be my year?

I could enter Ghostly Liaison, too (since it was also released this year), and maybe I will. It only costs $15 and I could use the exposure. If I did enter Ghostly Liaison, which category do you think it has a chance in? Same two categories apply.

 

By the way, I also entered Blind Temptation in the RITA contest (RWA’s big published book contest). Don’t know what kind of chance I have, but figure that’s FIVE more people who will read my book. And this book needs more readers!

It could use some more reviews, too, but that’s an issue the RITA won’t fix. Unless I final, I suppose. Wouldn’t THAT be something?

I could have also entered Ghostly Liaison, but decided against it. Besides the $50 entry fee, I have to mail 5 books (5 more if the book finals). Copies of Blind Temptation are a lot cheaper for me to buy than copies of Ghostly Liaison. Maybe that’s not a very good reason, but I have to draw the line somewhere.

Knee update: Hubby has been calling me Hop-a-long. My knee is still sore. But, it’s getting better. It hurts the worst when I get up after sitting awhile (and awhile can be a little as a couple of minutes). My knee objects to straightening (and bending and walking). At least it doesn’t hurt when I’m sitting. That’s because I’m not moving it! Hahahahaha! J

Hey, if I can’t laugh over this, I might as well throw in the towel, you know?

So… Please give me your honest opinion (as if you’d do anything else). Do my covers stand a chance? Or should I just forget about the whole thing?

Have a great weekend!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and I'm an Idiot!

Well, I went and did it. Really messed up my knee. I could kick myself (if I was able to bend my knee, that is!). Whatever made me think I could walk fast? I should have known better, but my knee was feeling great. No pain. Well, no pain until after I passed the 1 mile mark. Shortly after, my knee pretty much gave out.

I quickly turned around and headed home, limping. About half-way there, my knee was feeling a little better (I wasn’t limping as much), so I walked over to the polls and voted. Figured I was already out and it wasn’t really all that much out of the way. Probably a good thing I did, too. Once I got home and sat down? Yeah, there was no getting up. Not easily, anyway.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!

I only hope I didn’t sabotage the rest of my exercise routine. But if my knee isn’t feeling better by the end of the week, I guess I’ll go back to the doctor and see about that cortisone shot. It certainly couldn’t hurt.

Here’s what I read this week:

Oct 31: “Let the Dead Sleep” by Heather Graham, first book in the Cafferty and Quinn series, a supernatural thriller/romantic suspense at 331 pages. Blurb from book: It was stolen from a New Orleans grave—the centuries-old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It’s an object desired by collectors—and by those with wickedness in their hearts. One day, its current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty’s antiques shop on Royal Street, the shop she inherited from her father. But before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead…and Danni discovers that she’s inherited much more than she realized. In the store is a book filled with secret writing: instructions for defeating evil entities. She’d dismissed it as a curiosity…until the arrival of this statue, with its long history of evil and even longer trail of death. Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past. He believes that doing the right thing isn’t a job—it’s a way of life. And the right thing to do is find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers. He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations. Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced, that love can be temporary. And yet their connection is primal. Mesmerizing. They also know that their story won’t end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again. Well, I guess getting this book as a freebie at RT worked. I liked it and I’m interested in reading more (there are two more in the series now, no idea how many to expect). It’s got a bit of a supernatural bent, but mostly some kind of thriller/suspense thing (and I’m a sucker for those!). There is some romance going on, but it’s not really a “romance” (no happily ever after or happy for now ending—where it concerns the couple, at least). Still, I like the characters a lot and I want to read more, so I guess I have another series on my radar now. J

Nov 3: “Bared to You” by Sylvia Day, first book in the Crossfire series, an erotica romance at 319 pages. Blurb from book: He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I’d never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily… Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other’s most private wounds…and desires. The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn’t tear us apart… I got this book free at RT. I don’t read a lot of the freebies I get, but I’ve been curious to read something by Sylvia Day and I now had a book. But as I was in Goodreads to mark it as my current read, I saw a friend mention it had a cliffhanger (and we know how much I loathe those). Then I noticed it was in first person (ugh!). I seriously wondered if I should read it. Well, I’m glad I did. I enjoyed it a lot. In fact, I had a hard time putting it down. And that cliffhanger? Well, there really wasn’t one (thank goodness). I still wasn’t crazy about the first person (doesn’t make it a real romance for me anyway, I like to know what the guy is thinking/feeling), but it’s not that off-putting to keep me from the next book. If you like steamy books with two damaged characters, this book is for you. Hot stuff!

So… Have you ever picked up a book and almost let the reviews keep you from reading it, but read it anyway then found out it was pretty darn good? I think this was a first for me.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and Exercising Pains

You know, when you’re trying to get into shape, it doesn’t help when your body decides to fight back. At least that’s what seems to be happening to me. On Monday I worked out at the gym for nearly two hours. TWO. HOURS. That included a 30 minute warm-up walk. My knee was fine on Monday night. I got up Tuesday to walk. Stupid knee starts acting up before I even reach the end of my street. Instead of walking 4 miles at a 17 min/mile (a brisk pace for me and a goal I’m trying to obtain), I walked 3 miles at a 20 min/mile. And my knee hurt for the rest of the afternoon. How can I expect to get in shape if my knee protests?

Now, this has been happening to me on and off for the past couple of months, so I got my knee checked out. It’s possible I’m getting arthritis. Doesn’t seem fair. I know, I know, nothing in life is fair. Tell me about it! ***grumble, grumble, grumble***

Here’s what I read this week:

Oct 6: “Hard To Come By” by Laura Kaye, #3 in the Hard Ink series, a romantic suspense at 366 pages. Blurb from book: Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team—sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there. When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the sibling she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he’s become. Derek’s easy smile and quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting their desire and leading Derek to crave a woman he shouldn’t trust. As the team’s investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come by to let it slip away… Great story. Even though there are only the two points of view (Derek’s and Emilie’s—duh), it’s still a suspenseful read with lots of action. Along with lots of sexy stuff. Love the sexy stuff.

So…Have you ever had a body part sabotage your plans? Because I swear, it does seem like sabotage to me.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

And Then I Found This…

I subscribe to the In’DTale magazine. The July/August issue had been sitting in my e-mail box since July10th, unopened. I just got busy with being in Wisconsin, then hosting Sizzle and Sass, and, oh yeah, my birthday, that I didn’t have time to actually READ it. I finally opened it this week.

Well, lo and behold, there, in the review section, was Blind Temptation! I had submitted it for review back in April and had no idea they finally finished reading it (it was still showing up in Goodreads as being currently read). Anyway, if you’re interested in seeing what they had to say (and yes, it’s good or I wouldn’t bother telling you about it) here’s the link to the magazine: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/July-August-summer-issue-of-InD-tale-magazine.html?soid=1110058879188&aid=uo9SwFBsAPE. My book’s review is on page 95/96. J

Well, for those of you who didn’t read the comments on Wednesday’s blog (and why didn’t you?), I do not have a hernia. Whew! I just strained one of my abdominal muscles. Now, the doctor also told me if I came down with a fever or nausea, I was to hightail it to the emergency room. Seems the muscle I pulled is in the area of the appendix. Figures, huh? Like I don’t have enough to be paranoid about. Well, the pain is subsiding, so there’s that. I’m hoping I can get back to my regular exercise routine (minus those stomach crunches—must find a new exercise, I think) next week. I don’t need an excuse not to go to the fitness center. I can usually come up with something frivolous all by myself. J

After a busy weekend last weekend, this one looks to be a lot quieter. I’m okay with that. I deserve to be lazy on some weekends.

Then again, don’t we all?

So… What’s your favorite weekend pastime? Mine would be to go to the beach (the kind with the ocean, not the lake), but the beach is too far away. Guess I’ll just have to figure out something else to do.

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and I’m Pi$$ed

I’m not a fan of the new system our local theatre (Rave Cinemas) has implemented. They have remodeled and added those lounge seats. Those are bad enough, but now when you buy a ticket to the movie, you’re assigned seats (which I believe I ranted about earlier). I was going to go see “Trainwreck” with the hubby last night. We were 45 minutes early to the theatre. Not a decent seat was left to choose (and I doubt anyone was in the theatre yet). If I can’t sit where I want, then it’s not worth the money going to the movies. I doubt I’ll return to Rave, even if it is the cheapest (so far) around here. We checked. Matinees at the Regal Cinema are $9.50. That’s outrageous! I might as well wait until the movie is on DVD and see it in the comfort of my family room. I’m beginning to think it will be WAY cheaper. Anyway, here’s what I read this week:

Jul 21: “The Forgotten Girl” by David Bell, a mystery/suspense at 410 pages. Blurb from book: The past has arrived uninvited at Jason Danvers’s door…and it’s his younger sister, Hayden, a former addict who severed all contact with her family as her life spiraled out of control. Now she’s clean and sober but in need of a desperate favor—she asks Jason and his wife to take care of her teenage daughter for forty-eight hours while she handles some business in town. But Hayden never returns. And her disappearance brings up more resolved problems from Jason’s past, including the abrupt departure of his best friend on the high school graduation night twenty-seven years earlier. When a body is discovered in the woods, the mysteries of his sister’s life—and possible death—deepen. And one by one these events will shatter every expectation Jason has ever had about families, about the awful truths that bind them and the secrets that should be taken to the grave. This book started out slow. Probably because it seemed like everything was happening TO Jason and he wasn’t DOING anything. It picked up when he started taking action, but by then I was almost finished with the book. Can’t say it was all that suspenseful. I only read this book because I promised a friend I would AND I went to the author’s book reading/signing (and yes, I paid for this book). I wish I had enjoyed it more, but I guess it’s just not the book for me. That’s not to say it isn’t for you, though.

Well, it looks like I went and did it again—got myself hurt. All in the effort to get into better shape. Figures, huh? Anyway, I have a doctor’s appointment later today to make sure I don’t have a hernia. All I know is my abdomen hurts whenever I move, cough, sneeze, and laugh. Sleeping has NOT been fun. Stupid exercises!

So… Has anything pissed you off lately? Feel free to rant here. J

Happy Reading!

Stacy

I'm Going to Cleveland

Hey there! If you find yourself in the Cleveland, Ohio area this Saturday, come stop by the Strongsville Holiday Inn between 11:30-12:30. I’ll be there selling books (along with all these other fine authors shown HERE)! Signing them, too! Well…unless you didn’t want me to sign yours, but why would you want that? You’d just buy the digital version then, right? It’s certainly a lot cheaper!

The Cleveland Rocks Romance Conference is hosting the book fair, which is free to the public (the conference isn’t, though). This is my second of three conferences within a month’s time (I’ll be going to the third one next weekend). I certainly hope I sell a few books. That would certainly make things nice.

By the way… I’ve picked the date of August 1st to raise the e-book price of Blind Temptation to $4.99. So you have until then to purchase it for $2.99.

Of course, you’ve all purchased it already. Right? J

Okay, I know not ALL of you have. That’s okay. I still like you! But if you know someone who would like my books, I’d be eternally grateful if you spread the word.

Yep, ETERNALLY grateful. That’s a long time!

Last night the hubby and I went to a Dayton Dragons game (they are the Single A team of the Cincinnati Reds, or baseball for those of you unfamiliar with MLB). Between innings, the Green Team entertains the crowd (they’re called the Green Team because they’re all wearing green uniform shirts and green is the team’s color). Twice during the game (before the first inning and the middle of the 8th) they go around the park and shoot off some T-shirts. One of these T-shirts came sailing our way last night. My hubby dove for it and so did another larger fellow. Hubby lost the fight for the shirt (I kind of thought they were both being a little ridiculous) and now he thinks he might have broken his finger. But does he go to the hospital to get it X-rayed? Of course not. Says all they’ll do is splint it. Duh! Isn’t that the whole point?

Sometimes I really wonder about that man.

Anyway…at least the Dragons won! They’re certainly playing a lot better than the Reds (I don’t even know what’s happening with them—they started out so well!).

I’m still keeping up with the Stanley Cup Finals, too. Can’t believe the East and West series have both gone to a Game 7. I’m rooting for the Hawks and Bolts, in case you were interested. I don’t want to see the Rangers in the final (and yes, it DOES have a lot to do with the fact the Penguins lost to them!).

So…You got any big plans this weekend? Hope the weather cooperates for you!

Have a great Friday (and Saturday and Sunday)! I’m certainly going to try. J

Stacy

Is it Spring Yet?

Woke up yesterday to more snow. Five inches of the stuff. Actually, five MORE inches of the stuff. The stuff we got last week hadn’t melted yet. Heck, it hasn’t gotten WARM enough for anything to melt. That would require the outside temps to be above freezing.

Hopefully, that will all change tomorrow. It’s supposed to get in the 40s. Oh, and it’s supposed to rain. A LOT.

Great. Just what we need. Melting snow AND rain. A recipe for flooding.

Still, I’m ready for spring. February was brutal. I want some warmer weather!!

Today I am attempting to work out in the gym again. Back in January I ended up injuring my leg from walking on the treadmill. Turns out I probably tore my hamstring. Don’t know how I managed to do that. It’s not like I run on the stupid thing. But I’m allowed to ride the bikes and use some certain weights, so that’s what I’m gonna do.

I miss going to the gym (really!), but I’m not looking forward to starting all over again. It’s such a pain. I just hope my leg is getting better. The doctor put me on Mobic and so far it’s working great. Or I healed. I tend to do that after I see the Doctor. It’s like I wait and suffer and when I’ve finally had enough and make that appointment I don’t hurt any more. Never fails. Yeah, you’d think I’d learn and just go at the first sign of an injury, but that would require a working brain and apparently I don’t have one of those. That, or I just don’t like going to the Doctor. Maybe I should go with the second one. What do you think?

I got Blind Temptation back from my daughter on Friday (yay!), so I’m making the fixes to it now. Don’t know if I’ll get the book published in March, but I’m trying. I just want to get it done with so I can concentrate on finishing Ghostly Interlude. Now there’s a book that’s kicking my butt, but I think I came up with something. That tends to happen when I have to work on another project. Oh well, at least I have something to work with when I do get back to it.

I finally watched “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Not exactly what I thought it would be. I thought it would be a zany comedy. Instead it was zany-weird. I don’t see how this movie was nominated for Best Picture. Makes me wonder what kind of people are on the Academy.

So… If you were to buy a new car today, which car would you buy? I usually have an answer right away for this, but I’ve been so happy with my Xterra, I haven’t wanted another car. And while my husband likes his Solara convertible, he’s been looking at those Dodge Challengers (I wonder if he wants the bright green one like in this picture—I like bright). I have to admit, it would be pretty neat to own one. Not sure I’d want to drive it, though. I like sitting up high.

Have a Happy Monday and try to stay warm!

 

Stacy