The writing challenge that knows you have a life.

It happened. My book is out. There’s proof too. You can see it on Amazon. The girl who loved to read, but never dared to write until early 2011, has been published.

It’s been a crazy ride. The writing bug had been trying to nab me for a long time and I tried to ignore it. My brother was the writer, not me. I dance. I tell my stories with movement, not with words. But you see, there was the key to my destiny.

I’ve always been a story teller.

I just had to get out of my own way. Once I decided I would do what it takes, I began my journey. I wrote and wrote. I studied and studied. When passion and desire drive your work, nothing can stop you.

It also helps to surround yourself with support and #ROW80 has been there for me. Thank you to each and every participant, you rock.

So, what’s next? After I finish writing another dozen guest posts, I’ll dive back into my craft study, finish the next book in The Love Projects series, and prepare for hitting send, again.

This week, Amy and Travis Wall performed a piece that Travis choreographed. This piece is simply about the games in a relationship. It’s strong. It’s daring. It’s  powerful and oh so beautiful. I could and have watched it over and over.

IT IS PERFECTION.

It’s visions like this piece or the great book I’m reading that drive me to write, to tell more stories, because I am a story teller and I have a lot more stories to tell.

The Goals – week-8 results

• Spend at least 1-hour a day with my characters – done.
• Daily progress in writing craft, word count, editing, and/or plotting – this is only done if writing guest posts can count. I’ve written a bunch and I have twice as many more to write.
• Workout a minimum of three times a week and round it out with plenty of water, sleep, and my calorie limit – not done. I didn’t get in a single workout, I blew the calorie limit more and more the further I got in the week, and got barely any sleep. I did keep up on my water. WEEK 9 PRIORITY
• Weekly Nia study (i.e. studying the song/movement structure) – not done. WEEK 9 PRIORITY
• Stay on top of my co-op preschool Treasurer responsibilities – done. I handled a bunch of stuff here, including a couple meetings, lots of reporting, and journal entries. ugh.
• Organize something in the house each week & clean something in the house every day – not done. WEEK 9 PRIORITY
• Spend time in the garden – not done. WEEK 9 PRIORITY

I’m holding a GIVEAWAY through the end of September to celebrate my debut.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

What you might have missed here this week:

My First Cover Reveal: Taking Chances by S.J. Maylee

Spotlight: Been Loving You Too Long by Seraphina Donavan

Mid Week Tease with Taking Chances

My Debut is Here – Taking Chances by S.J. Maylee

The writing challenge that knows you have a life.

This is my last check-in … as a pre-published author. That’s right. My debut is coming out this week. I’ll also be celebrating the birth of my two sons on Monday and Thursday. I’m one heck of a Project Manager, lol. This week will now be known as birth week. 🙂

My goal for the week is not to panic, not to worry, and not to think about whether or not I’m ready.

Do you know what will get me through this week? My friends. I’ve met a lot of lovely people in this writing journey. At times they motivate you, encourage you, and they also make you laugh. Thank goodness for friends

and family.

Have your friends and family helped you with something lately?

This week, Tucker and Robert performed a piece by Travis Wall. I recommend listening to the intro before they dance. The choreographer was inspired by experiences he had with this own brother. In the performance, you’ll also see Tucker’s and Robert’s own experiences in this marriage of movement and music.  Their fluid strength hits and melts with such grace. It’s beautiful.

The Goals – week-7 results

• Spend at least 1-hour a day with my characters – done.
• Daily progress in writing craft, word count, editing, and/or plotting – kind of done. Waiting for your first ever cover is hard. I was a nervous wasteland all week. Finally by mid-week I got moving again on my WIP and inspiration struck. I’m looking forward to spending more time with these characters.
• Workout a minimum of three times a week and round it out with plenty of water, sleep, and my calorie limit – done. I got in 5 workouts.
• Weekly Nia study (i.e. studying the song/movement structure) – kind of done. I danced one of the new routines. Gosh, it’s so good. I’m thinking about spending time studying one of these routines next. 😀 WEEK 8 PRIORITY
• Stay on top of my co-op preschool Treasurer responsibilities – done. It just took a couple of emails, a couple trips to the school and one to the bank.
• Organize something in the house each week & clean something in the house every day – done. We are hosting family and friends today to celebrate my kids’ birthdays. There was a lot of organizing going on this week.
• Spend time in the garden – done.

What you might have missed here this week:

Spotlight Dark Hunter by Shannan Albright

Cover Reveal BET ON ECSTASY by Stacey Kennedy

A Blog Takeover by Morgan King Author of With His Handy Man

Interview: Shyla Colt and Nikki Prince authors of The Bond

Click here for my post for Ella’s Turning What? Blog Party

The writing challenge that knows you have a life.

Life is full of contrasts, from morning to night, from birth to death. Each point on the spectrum has its beauty and each has the ability to take you completely off guard.

This week I helped my in-laws celebrate 50 years of marriage. They’re an amazing couple. So, I was not surprised at the amount of family and friends that came to celebrate. They re-danced their first dance while my husband and his brother sang and played the guitar. At that exact moment, in the background, was a video of them dancing their first dance at their wedding. It was beautiful.

Also in this same week, we’ve had health scares for an Aunt and a young cousin. A friend learned of her good friend’s cancer and another friend lost her pet.

The contrasts are brutal and each remind you how short life can be. As I move from one busy week right into another one, I will strive for balance and to see beauty even in the contrasts.

I picked Paul and Mackenzie from SYTYCD once again this week. This piece is choreographed by Mandy Moore. The contrasts of strength and breath here is quite extraordinary.

The Goals – week-6 results

• Spend at least 1-hour a day with my characters – done.
• Daily progress in writing craft, word count, editing, and/or plotting – kind of done. On Monday, I finished another round of edits on my upcoming debut and sent them back to my publisher. The rest of the week, I struggled to spend time on my WIP. Instead, I spent time reading and enjoying books.
• Workout a minimum of three times a week and round it out with plenty of water, sleep, and my calorie limit – kind of done. I got in 3 workouts, but I blew my calorie limit.
• Weekly Nia study (i.e. studying the song/movement structure) – kind of done. I danced the 3rd new routine. Wow. I picked some great routines and this one might be my favorite. 😀 WEEK 7 PRIORITY
• Stay on top of my co-op preschool Treasurer responsibilities – done. I didn’t have to do anything this week. Yeah!
• Organize something in the house each week & clean something in the house every day – not done. WEEK 7 PRIORITY
• Spend time in the garden – done, but I’m hosting a party next weekend. So, this needs to be a priority again. WEEK 7 PRIORITY

What you might have missed here this week:

NEW RELEASE ALERT!! Claimed by Stacey Kennedy

Ella’s Turning What? Blog Party <- includes a giveaway and a Grand Prize Giveaway