Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

So I not only finished my first edit for Haven, I started on my next revision. Maybe there is hope? It’s funny because I wrote this so long ago that as I read I got excited as I go to parts I had forgotten about. I used this last round to use Grammarly. I know that doesn’t fix it all but it makes it more legible. There will be more writing to get it the way I think it will read the best. But I have to be careful as I have written 12 (at least) books on this series so I don’t want to stray too far away.

I have put the whole thing as it is now in WattPad. I would love some constructive critiques, either on that page or here or send an email if you choose. There are places I need the questions asked or gentle shoves in right directions.

Escapist Coloring

I thought I already did a coloring for this month. But I don’t see it reflected on the coloring page so here goes another. Here is the picture before:

And here’s the finished product. I do love coloring. I’m always surprised at how much fun I have while doing it. I need to make it a habit!

Thank you, Linda G. Hill for the Escapist Coloring Club!

Zero

I can’t believe that I actually made it to the end of the alphabet! Especially since I did it illegally (I never signed up here: A to Z Challenge ) and I was rarely on track. But all letters were used even if not so creatively. I even got kicked out of Linda G. Hill’s cell I think thanks to John Holton. It has been fun, and best of all it kept me blogging through the month.

Isn’t it nice to tick things off the list, finish something? This month I can say I have hit the blast-off zero on several levels. Tomorrow I will have finished my first full edit of my first book. There is still a lot of rewriting that needs to be done, but at least it isn’t as lame as it would have been previously. This I was encouraged by CampNaNo. I had set my goal to edit two hours a day with a total of 60 hours. I didn’t know it would take less than that to get through the whole book and I have two chapters to go through tomorrow. Woo-hoo!

As soon as I’ve finished writing this blog I will post my newest color escape. Boom!

The feeling of accomplishment is swelling my chest!

Oh, and I finally got to watch Hidden Figures which is why I chose the above picture and didn’t go with Zombies for the final Z.

Review: Testimony by Anita Shreve

Testimony by Anita Shreve
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Our little library now has books on CDs. I saw them the last time I was there and decided I should grab a couple to encourage this new accommodation.

This was one I remember hearing about so I thought I couldn’t go wrong. The librarian said I shouldn’t read it at night, but that is the only time I can sink my teeth into a book.

I realized early on why I don’t like reading with only the audio version. There is no way to look at words or pages to clarify what I just heard. And this book has many points of view incorporating second-person on a couple of them. It didn’t quite work for me. And the actors playing the different characters weren’t always the best, I didn’t think.

This topic is worth talking about with the ‘Me, too’ movement. It shows the other side of the rape story. I don’t think it should send us back to women not being heard. But to remind us that there are those women who don’t care who they ruin with accusations. The main male character wasn’t on a power trip or trying to hurt someone. This story does need to be told. It needs to be read.

But I don’t have to like it. I didn’t hate it either.

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday/A to Z — X, WhY

I’m once again behind. A day of driving around yesterday. We got a late start. Didn’t know where we were going. Why isn’t there a real

to mark the spot? We were looking for a Habitat for Humanity ReStore to find bookshelves and dressers. Got there just as they closed leaving us to settle for Wally World.

We didn’t like the dressers but found a cube bookshelf that could hold cloth baskets and eventually, if we find a better dresser this could stand up and be for books.

Long day. Plenty of pain, on many levels. Kali didn’t get to go so she gave me quite the lecture when I got home.

This “dresser” bookshelf was fairly easy and outside of missing a locking screw–WHY??? turned out to look like its picture:

That was how it looks on the box. We haven’t put it in its home yet so can’t take a picture of how it turned out.

The real bookshelf… Says on the box that it is 71 in high but comes in a box half that height. The instructions were horrid!!! WHY???? Here’s how it looks on the box:

We finally got ours to look like that without the stuff. It seems upside down as it turns out but we fixed it. Now it needs a wall to put against and help to restrain it. Then a bunch of books will find their new home and a dining room might emerge from the walls of boxes. Yes, all from my hobby room that is now my son’s room.

The easiest project was the coffee table that turned out way smaller than I thought it would be–so I need another or a storage hassock or something. Here’s how the coffee table looks on the box:

It will be nice not to have to drag my TV trays around the sofas so that I can knit and compute. But now I need to have coasters. LOL!

SO this was a SoCS brought to us by Linda G Hill

With a little of the A to Z Challenge mixed in. If you couldn’t tell X and Y were the letters of the day for me.

Well…

Wow, this day nearly got away from me. I did get to walk through the golf course near the lake. The sunshine on the water, the warble of waterfowl. It wasn’t a long walk. Less than half a mile. My back is still hurting tons. I just didn’t want to stay inside on such a pretty day.

The wind whipped up a bit of rain but never got bad enough to send us inside.

Well, I’ve played the ‘W’ game for the A to Z challenge. I need to get ready to read. Nearly finished with Testimony by Anita Shreve.

Yesterday’s picture should work here now as it was the same place.

 

1-Liner A-Z Plus!

Sorry. Thanks! Understand? Verbose?

 One-Liner Wednesday meets A to Z Challenge.

 

Okay, to explain the above line. Sorry it has been so long since I wrote here on the A to Z or otherwise.  After the long trip to town and back last week my back decided it hated me. I couldn’t find a comfortable place to type. I’m feeling a bit better now, thanks. Not ready to run any marathons–or walk any farther than the end of the driveway. I hope you understand. I hope that wasn’t too verbose.

But today I got out to take pics of the library, the surrounding golf course, and the lake. Here ya go!

This is from the parking lot. See the wheelchair ramp! And the bike rack?

Maybe you can see it better here.

 

There’s a nice shady spot at the end of the building with a picnic table and a view.

Kali made sure to walk the playground and golf course with her ‘uncle’. He makes sure Kali and I get out and enjoy the world.

There is also a playground and baseball diamond in this area and the park is not far from here, so nice grassy areas to enjoy.

The lake from two different angles.

 

Kali is happy she got out for a while.

And she earned her ‘cookie’!

 

Review: Lonesome Paladin by S.M. Reine

Lonesome Paladin by S.M. Reine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Though Cèsar and Lincoln are not my favorite characters, this book had me a Reno. I love it when Sara Reine centers her stories in my old haunts. Once I am immersed in the town, I care about what happens there. Who knew there were so many demons, vampires, were-creatures, fae in Reno? I’ve thought I’ve seen a glimmer here and there, but I figured it was a figment of my imagination–or was it?

I started this book around 9 PM last night and couldn’t stop reading until finished a little after midnight. It was a wild ride! While I told you my non-favorite characters, I was excited to know we would get to see Ophelia, Cèsar’s sister. And I enjoyed getting to know Sophie Keyes.

I always enjoy Ms. Reine’s books. That’s why I’m always happy to receive a request to read and review them. Thanks for the opportunity! And I love the side topic Sara was able to present in this book to make an educational moment or two.

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Review: A Sword in Time by Cidney Swanson

A Sword in Time by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love this series. Nearly as much as I did Saving Mars. Let’s see, space travel, living on another planet, or Time Travel to ancient Greece? Space Travel. But this runs a close second.

Cidney Swanson writes the way I wish I did. She grabs your attention and won’t let go until the book is finished and then leaves you wishing for more.

Maybe it is from too many nights awake reading this that I got this latest fibro attack? Maybe worth it?

At any rate, this is a must read series! I think you will like it! I can’t wait for more!!!

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Review: Stumble by Susana Sparrow

Stumble by Susana Sparrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was quite fun. The young female protagonist goes to visit relatives in Europe. There are language problems for her except for those who do speak English. But the adventure begins when she goes to the cave surrounded by mythology.

I don’t want to give anything away but magic happens. Lots of magic. Some quite dangerous. Remember language issues and trying to remain a good house guest for her relatives. Oh, then add a romance that is quite impossible on so many levels. Yep, now you have a story. I quite enjoyed it and hope everyone gets a chance to read it.

Yeah, I know. I don’t usually like romance. But this one has so many problems most don’t have. And this protagonist is strong and stands for her feminist ideals in spite of all the magic. This kept it interesting for me. I hope it is for you, too.

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