February 6th, 2015 Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

I’m a bad person. Well, maybe not bad, but definitely a bit ditzy at times. Since the girls were little, we’ve always held their “family party” on the Sunday between their birthdays – Dani Rose is the 4^th & AlyssaLynn’s is the 15^th of February. So, this Sunday is the day, but with Lys off at college, I guess it didn’t occur to me that some people would question if I was doing a family party just for Dani.

My SiL, MiL, mom and three of my friends just said “what do you need me to bring Sunday?”, and I’m such a scatterbrain, I didn’t realize everyone who is usually invited didn’t know we were having the party. Then my mom told me she mentioned it to her sister, and then I get a text from my other aunt asking “Did I miss something?” I felt so bad that I didn’t extend an official invitation. Then I had to wrack my brain to remember who I said something to, and who I had just assumed would know. See, I’m a bad person.

I am going to take the easy way out this year as far as food goes. I’m ordering several half-pans of Chinese food. I’ve done this a few times in the past, and the food was always a big hit, plus, the Chinese restaurant by us gives me a really good deal – lots of food, not too expensive. I’ll be able to feed 45 people for under $100. It’s a beautiful thing.

I spent four hours this morning on Twitter related stuff. I created an Excel spreadsheet for Tweets, Follows and Retweets. I wrote a couple of dozen Tweets for each books so I can have them at the ready, and then I tweeted, retweeted and thanked. I took a small break to be able to make the kids lunch, and when I got back, there were over 2K tweets in my queue. I’m trying, I really am, but I’m still finding Twitter exhausting. However, even though it is making my head spin and my eyes cross, my books have been climbing in the rankings since I started this Twitter marketing blitz, so I guess it will be worth it in the end.

I finally sent Corporate Blues off to the Indie Next Generation Book Awards. I have been signed up since September, but never managed to get around to mailing them the three copies they requested. Then, two days ago, I get an email saying there was only ten days left to get the books to them. SHOOT! By the grace of God, I still had three copies left in my inventory – and ONLY three copies.

Needless to say, I need to order more books, but I think I’ll wait a little bit. I won’t have another book signing until April, so there’s no sense in ordering them now and storing them in the basement until I need them. I haven’t completed my spreadsheets yet for my taxes, but if memory serves (which is sketchy at best lately, but I try), then I’ve sold – or raffled or donated – 250 copies of Corporate Blues since it was published in March 2014.

Combined with A Second Chance and Taking Chances, I went through close to 1,000 copies of books in 2014. That’s just hard copies and does not include sales on Kindle. Now folks like Nora Roberts and James Patterson probably do that in a day, but considering the competition out there, I’m not complaining. Would I like the numbers higher? Well, DUH, of course, but I’m thinking, for being relatively new to this profession, it’s not too shabby.

Well, I’ve got places to go, and things to do, so TTFN. I hope you have a Fabulous day, and happy writing!

Your Next Challenge is:

If I could return to any time in my life, knowing what I know now…

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.

February 24th

Hi, it’s Christina –

I did things in reverse order today because I knew I would run out of steam pretty quickly. So, instead of writing first, I did some work around the house. Since my husband was down to the dredges of his wardrobe, I did some laundry. I emptied all the wastebaskets and took out the garbage. I unloaded and reloaded the dishwashers, and I straightened up a little. There’s still A LOT to do, but I am just about out of energy, and I’m worried if I push it, I’ll get sick again.

It’s amazing how much the house can go to pot when Mom is out of the picture for a few days. Whatever, I’ll take the next three days to put things back to rights – just in time for me to leave for Vermont. Hopefully my little loves won’t trash the house too bad in thirty five hours.

This weekend is going to be busy, busy, busy. Saturday Lys will me making Max’s cake and I’ll be making food for the party. I also have to do the Costco run for the cheese cake Lys wants as her birthday cake and the makings for Caesar salad which everyone enjoys. I think the only other things I need to do is sausage and peppers and iced tea, but I’m going to have to check the list my sister-in-law emailed me to be sure. You think I’m bad with my lists? You should meet Cindy! LOL I don’t fault her though, she manages to keep three kids with VERY active schedules, various volunteer work and a part time job all running like clockwork. I’m pretty sure I could not handle the crazy pace she keeps without losing my mind.

Okay, it’s time to flip the laundry, take some more medicine, and then I’m going to take a nap because I still have a grocery run to do and dinner to make. I can’t believe how much a stupid cold has wiped me out. You’d think I was recovering from major surgery. UGH! What a wimp I’m turning into in my old age!

I hope y’all have a marvelous Monday, and happy writing!

February 11th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina –

I’m going to say something I haven’t said for almost two years… I have to get ready to go to work today. Today through Friday, I’m going to be helping a local flower shoppe get ready for Valentine’s Day. I haven’t worked in a flower shop for thirty years! I’m actually really looking forward to it, although I know I’m going to be pooped when I get home. Provided not much has change in thirty year, a flower shop is a ZOO in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. I’ll be hopping, bopping and running around like a nut for the next four days. I really think this is just the thing I need to get me out of my winter funk!

So, the family birthday party for Dani went well. All the snow made parking at my house a bit of a challenge, but we figured it out. Luckily the only wipe-out was a twelve year old boy, and since bumbles bounce, there was no real harm done. My “big brother” surprised us by plowing our driveway on Friday and then my hubby salted AND sanded what was left, so although still snow covered, it wasn’t too terrible.

It was very strange not having Lys here for the family party. She called Saturday – from the middle of a frozen Lake Champlain – but I couldn’t really talk to her too long because I was prepping for the party. From the time we did get to talk, I could tell she was a little sad about not being home for the party. Her birthday is this Saturday, and I think she’s going to be a little bummed because she’s not home. Hopefully her friends at school will keep her occupied and make her day special.

I haven’t been a complete sloth these past few days. I am participating in another marketing event, one which involves forms of social media other than just Facebook. My Amazon author’s page and my Twitter account have shown significant increases, my blog has received new followers (yeah, perhaps this group of folks will take up some writing challenges), and I even have more followers on Tumblr! Pair that with a recent string of five start reviews and my best sales month ever, and, so far, 2014 has been pretty good. Sending up a little prayer it continues throughout the year.

Okay, I have clothes that just finished drying, so I need to fold them. I have to make my hubby lunch (Dani’s home sick today, so no need to make her a lunch). I want to clean up the kitchen – yeah, that New Year’s resolution was an epic fail – and then I need to get ready for work, so I should go. I hope you have a fabulous day, and happy writing!

Your Last Challenge was:

The over use of adjective and adverbs is frowned upon when writing a novel, but not here. Pick one of your five senses – just ONE – and describe something you like (it could be bread, the beach, sunshine, horseback riding, a book – whatever). Oh, did I mention, don’t say what the “thing” is, let us guess.

Feeling a little nervous, I hope I can relax enough to enjoy this gift. The silk sheet slides over my skin as I attempt to get comfortable. The dribble of the warm liquid on my back releases an involuntary shiver. Deft hands begin to spread the oil over my tense muscles, progressively increasing their pressure as they go; kneading, working in small circles, then in long fluid lines, to release months, if not years, of stress. Slowly I feel the knots loosening and I begin to relax. A soft moan escapes my lips as my back becomes as pliant as melting butter. I begin to drift, floating on a pain free cloud.

Yikes – that was really hard. I don’t know how many sentences I had to start over because I couldn’t use sight, or sound, or smell. Thankfully, when writing, we can use all five senses to describe a setting. I’d be in big trouble if I couldn’t!

Your Next Challenge is:

Shhhh…it’s a secret….

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.

October 28th Challenge

Hi, it’s Christina – 

Yup, it’s Monday. I’m thankful I felt well enough last night to attend my father-in-law’s birthday celebration. We had almost everyone there for dinner. It was a little strange not having my daughter there; this was the first family event she wasn’t able to attend because she’s at college. I know this will be happening a lot now, but the first time is always weird – at least it is for me.

Hit a milestone this morning. I now have 200 followers on Twitter – imagine that – and I have followed back all except one. I don’t just automatically follow someone because they are following me. I actually go on to their page, determine the best I can that they are not an axe murderer or something, and then I will follow them. This one person’s page is written in a language I do not recognize, and I even tried plugging in their blurb into some translation software, but it is difficult to have something translated into English when you are merely guessing as to which language you are starting out in – my first two attempts did not work, so I gave up. Hey, I tried…

I will not be doing any writing today, well except for this blog. Today I am going to focus on getting the house in order and doing the grocery shopping. Then with that and some laundry done, I can write guilt free for a few days. Okay, it’s almost 10:30, so if I plan on getting anything accomplished today, I best get moving. I hope you have a wonderful day and happy writing!

 

Your Last Challenge was:

 

Your best friend is retiring and you are asked to give a speech at the retirement party.

 

I’ve known John since large reptiles roamed the Earth and fire was our latest technology. It’s hard to believe anyone was ever stupid enough to hire John, let alone allow him to work at their company for over thirty five years and become their managing director. Oh, if you only knew…and guess what? Since you can’t really do much about it now, I’m going to tell you a little something about your retiring director.

He’s if not the son of, and he isn’t because his dad was the nicest guy in the world, he is at least related to the Devil himself. That man right there, the one you all trust and love, has a mischievous streak a mile wide. The trouble he used to get me into while we were growing up would make any parent in this room cringe and be thankful he was not their son.

Hey John, anyone here ever hear about the time you locked our football coach in the port-a-john at the championship game and how the other team’s fans tipped the port-a-john, and then our bus driver wouldn’t let the coach back on the bus for the ride home because he stunk so bad? Or what about that time in college when you got into the professor’s computer and translated her only copy of the English final into Italian? Betchya you never shared any of those stories did you?

Yes folks, there is a lot about John you don’t know, and I could go on for hours, but I won’t. Because, as funny as some of these stories are, you already know the most important parts of John. He’s honest and faithful, kind, hardworking and fair. John never encountered a stranger, merely a friend he had not yet met. Over sixty years of friendship can attest to how good a friend John can be. So here’s to you buddy. May you have a long and adventuresome retirement. You have well-earned your time to play.

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.