March 17th 2015

Hi, it’s Christina –

Good Morning! Happy St. Patrick’s Day & Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mother in law!

So I survived another trek back and forth to Vermont. It’s a six hour drive, that includes several potty breaks, so it’s not too terrible. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy the long drive alone, no conversation, no radio. My family thinks I’m crazy, but they don’t realize I spend that time listening to my characters.

Yesterday I got to meet Beau Chamberlain. He inherited his grandma Maddie’s B&B on the lake in Colson Creek, Georgia. I also met Jeb Culpepper, the town’s deputy, boy that man can talk – talkative Georgia cop, gee I wonder how that character came to be?? LOL. They told me all about this big corporation, Elite Resorts International, who wanted to come in and buy the B&B, and the surrounding land, so they could build a spa retreat.

Then Talia (Taming Tate) elbowed her way in to tell me about a strange incident on the ranch. Olivia was in a snit because her brother still refused to introduce her to the new hunky football player, so she was planning a scheme to get the job done (no title yet); and finally Kieren (Faerie Tale Queen) started pitching a fit because all she’s waiting for is her HEA.

I’m just happy Robert and Blake (Simply by Chance) didn’t jump in on the bandwagon. I’m thinking, with NaNoWriMo only two weeks away, they were all vying for top billing. It was quite funny actually, because at one point they were arguing with each other. Yup, my head can be a scary place. LOL

Okay, I have to go start the corned beef. I’m going to try doing it in the crock pot this year. I’m working today, so that’s the only way I can think to get it done before seven. We’re celebrating Mom’s birthday over at my sister-in-law’s, and I’m in charge of the corned beef and cabbage. This year I’m also making the birthday cake, strawberry short cake, so I need to get that baked as well before I have to leave. Translation – I need to get my butt in gear.

I hope you have a marvelous day, and happy writing!

Your Next Challenge is:

As luck would have it…

You have ten minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count, and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.

March 17th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

Top o’ the morning to ya! Doubt you’d find any self-respecting  Irishman worth his salt who would ever say such a thing, but it’s St. Patty’s Day, so…

I want to start this blog off by wishing my wonderful Mother-In-Law a very happy 29th (hee hee) Birthday! Unlike your stereotypical mothers-in-law, I happen to have a wonderful one, and I wish her much joy and good health on this very special day.

After multiple uploading attempts, much grumbling, and a few choice words not fit for delicate ears, I was able to finalize the hard copy of Corporate Blues. Hopefully by tomorrow morning, I will receive the email saying everything has been loaded into the print system and I am able to get my sample copy. If, when the copy arrives, there are no updates that need to be done, I can place my final order for a case of paperbacks, and they should arrive in plenty of time for PPL Author’s Day. If changes need to be made, then I’ll be sweating it again, because I am quickly running out of time.

Today is going to be spent on initial marketing for Corporate Blues; linking the book on Amazon to my author’s page, setting up a promo through KDP, etc. I was quite surprised, when I logged on to my Amazon account yesterday, to find one copy of Corporate Blues had already been sold. It had only been live for a few hours! So, whoever you were, thank you, and know you have received the very first copy of this new book.

Speaking of marketing, I thought the new give-away raffle I’m running would have caused some buzz, but so far, there haven’t been any entries. Am I doing something wrong? I have never offered one of these before, so I really don’t know. There are a bunch of prizes, and all folks have to do to enter is like my Facebook page, and make a comment on my blog. They don’t even have to take up a challenge, just leave a quick comment. There are a few other things they can do to earn entries, but they are not required.

I don’t get it. I thought I made it easy enough for everyone to enter. Who knows, maybe the only folks who want to read my books already have their copies, so they don’t need to enter a raffle.

If any of you out there have done one of these raffles and can give me a little insight as to what I should expect, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, feel free to tell your friends about the raffle. I’d love to be able to get my books into the hands of folks who have never heard of me.

So, I’m off to do one of my least favorite aspects of being an author. However, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I would like to leave you with an Irish blessing.

May there always be work for your hands to do
May your purse always hold a coin or two; 
May the sun always shine on your windowpane; 
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain; 
May the hand of a friend always be near you; 
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

I hope y’all have a magical day, and happy writing!

Your Last Challenge was:

Write a story containing the following: A House Plant, A Rug, Glass

Cameron tossed his keys on the table, shrugged out of his overcoat, and hung it on the rack by the front door. He had not bothered with the light. He didn’t need it. He knew where he was headed, straight to bed with no detours. He had been up for nearly forty hours straight, and he was bone tired.

He was making his way to the back of the apartment when unmistakable sound of broken glass beneath his boot made him stop abruptly. He lived alone, he had no pets, so it could only mean one thing. Someone had broken into his apartment. Questions were, when, and are they still here?

He drew his sidearm, and pressed his back against the wall. Slowly he crept along the perimeter of the room, cautiously making his way to the bedroom. As he inched his way, he kicked something with his toe. His eyes, now adjusted to the dimly moonlit room, were able to discern the outline of his one and only sad little house plant lying broken and abused on the rug. He rolled his eyes, anticipating his mother’s ire at him killing another plant.

Your Next Challenge is:

You have 10 minutes (be honest). There is no right or wrong, just write. Spelling and punctuation don’t count and NO ONE is allowed to criticize what someone else has written. Go.