Quick Update

You know that saying when it rains, it pours? Yup that is my life right now. Good news I have good new freelance writing projects. Bad news, I got new freelance writing projects. While I'm glad these have come at the most inopportune time and now Bunowimo and Junowrimo definitely aint getting to 50,000 words. Plus my blogging time has disappeared. I use a quick episode on Netflix as a break because I just don't want read right now. My brain in too crammed with words.



But I am also grateful. I have more work which means more money and by the end of this week the big ones will be out of the way. That way I should be able to manage my time more wisely. Also I'm glad that a temporary bout of what I thought to be another flu attack, wasn't and I'm feeling better minus some exhaustion. So guys sorry for being away so long. I hope to be back on Monday July 4th, but don't quote me on that. Just look out for me next week on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.

Miss and love you guys. Thanks for being so supportive and yes I didn't allow comments on this post. I'm just too busy right now dear friends. But I know your thoughts and well wishes are with me as mine are with you. See you soon and no I don't think every lesson needs to be painful but the quote below has some promise of comfort for those who might be in turmoil or just got through. God Bless.

Junowrimo 2016: A Peek Inside

2016 has been quite a writing year so far. I have been seeing more of an uptick in freelance writing jobs and my own writing has come up with various WIP ideas for me to explore. This June I decided to take part in both Bunowrimo and Junowrimo. But it is the latter I'm most intrigued with because I have started to work on my second MG novel. Yes the girl, ahem woman, who was terrified about starting one MG WIP has started a second. This one however holds a deeper meaning to me because it has taken a real life of it's own. Let me explain.

Before June I had bare bones of an idea:

A) Evil Santa Claus. Not Krampus but that Santa in my story was always evil.

B) A child is taken to a special school or place where select kids are trained to fight him.

C) The Boogeyman is actually a good guy and nightmares are used to frighten kids awake so Santa can't kidnap them.

D) No clue. There were lots of confusing holes.

Then June rolled around and to say things changed would be a kindness

A) Santa Claus is actually a monster who has long had naughty kids sacrificed to him. The Santa Claus idea was born of a desire to expand his enterprise and fool humans who did not make a deal with him. Those who did got a lifetime of good luck in exchange for one of their children after he or she turns twelve. These deals were mostly made before the child's even born.

B) The kid that was supposed to be my MC is actually killed. But wait...

C) Gnomes get in on the action somehow and Yetis and Big Foot gets a mention. WTF? I don't know.

D) Gnomes are the wooden vessels that are actually inhabited by horrible creatures that act as Santa's enforcers if deals are reneged and slaughters the entire family. Very kiddie huh?

Oh but we are not done yet.

E) A new MC comes out the ether and he turns out to be the gay valentine of the former MC who is still considered missing. Twelve is a magical age? What twelve? Where the hell is this book going? I did not put crushes in here?! What's going on? Why am I being told about exchanging chocolate and hand holding? What...where am I?

F) Yeah F is the right word because the story stopped being mine.

G) Acceptance that I'm doing a whole new story now.

H) The Boogeyman or Mr. Boogeyman was once a black man who was attacked and tortured to death for loving a white woman. Now he fights Santa Claus by swiping bodies of kids Santa kills and see if they have a leftover spark he can use to 'bring them back' as minions to fight the gnomes and help stop Santa.

I) Disaster ensues and new MC ends up in the clutches of the Boogeyman as a sort of servant as he tries to reconnect with a certain minion. Take a wild guess who.

So yeah I'm leaving it at that. The Nightmare Children is a bit of scary roller coaster. But I am also having fun. I never thought I would be writing horror for children.

Then again I was as a kid a huge R.L. Stine fan and still want to grab anything he writes. Can't say he was on my mind at the start of this but now I must say it's kind of cool saying I'm writing a horror book for kids. Also one with various characters of different races, sexualities and...species? So to sum up I'm excited about this book and will do my best to bring up the first 50,000 word draft by June 30.

For Orlando

My heart goes out to all those who lost loved ones in Orldando both in the mass shooting at the gay nightclub and the murder of Christina Grimme last week. Each a tragedy in their own right. Neither to be forgotten as good innocent people lost their lives just being themselves.



Source



Christina Grimmie : Source

See you all on Monday. I just have no more words.

Waiting on Wednesday: Carve the Mark

Waiting on Wednesday is held weekly by Breaking the Spine. This event spotlights upcoming releases bloggers are excited about. So without further ado here is my pick.

For starters my sincerest apologies for being off the blogosphere. I'm currently catching up on blogs I haven't visited as of this week (sorry last week Thursday/Friday). Life, writing, Life. Anyway glad to be back and on with Wating on Wednesday.

Book: Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Expected Release Date: January 17, 2017

Summary on Goodreads: On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not — their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power — something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuve, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive — no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive — or to destroy one another.

Absolutely loved Veronica's Divergent trilogy and can't wait for book one of this new duology to come out. 2017 will be a great year for books. Hardcover pre-order will be a must. Am I riding the hype? Oh please, I am the hype. This is one book I was ready for before it was even announced. Thanks for stopping by and what book are you excited for this week?

WOW: Unknown by Wendy Higgins

Waiting on Wednesday is held weekly by Breaking the Spine. This event spotlights upcoming releases bloggers are excited about. So without further ado here is my pick.

Book: Unknown by Wendy Higgings

(Expected) Release Date: August 16, 2016

Summary from Goodreads: Amber Tate believes the worst thing she’ll suffer in life is dealing with the unrequited love she feels for her brother’s best friend, Rylen Fite. She also believes war is something unfortunate that happens places far, far away from her rural Nevada town. She’s wrong on both counts.

When an unknown organization meticulously bombs major cities in the United States and across the globe, a trickle-down effect spreads to remaining towns at an alarming speed—everything from food and water sources to technology and communications are compromised. Without leadership, the nation is split between paralysis and panic, but Amber isn’t one to hide or watch helplessly. She’s determined to put her nursing skills to use, despite the danger, even if it means working alongside the man she can never have. 

In this first installment of NY Times bestselling author, Wendy Higgins’s debut New Adult series, a frighteningly realistic apocalyptic America is brought to life, entwined with searing romantic tension that will leave you eager for more.

I really want to read this book. If you check out the preview on Wattpad like I did you'll see just how intricate this story is. More than an unrequited romance, you get to connect with the characters and the story about their lives, the situations around them and how they get through both the good and tough times. If anything promises a tough time, it's a war torn America and set within a realistic backdrop just adds to the drama. My kindle is already tingling and this will be Wendy's first venture into NA. I'm sold.

Have you read anything by Wendy Higgins before? Does this book catch your interest? What would be your WOW? Thanks for stopping by.

Monday MishMash: June Edition

Monday Mishmash is a weekly meme created by Kelly Hashway for sharing what's going on in your life and noggin. You just grab a button and post your business...I mean thoughts online. No biggie. Have fun!


1. Back on the writing grind. Took a needed break Sunday after completing two freelance writing jobs Saturday night. Ready to tackle the others today.

2. Junowrimo and Bunowrimo have started and so have I. Writing both a YA and a MG interchangeably is interesting and I can't wait to see what I have at the end of the month. Both have surprised me with big changes already.

3. Keeping up with my reading. Reread the first two books in the Girls Wearing Black Series last week. Now I'm currently reading book 3 The Rose Ransom by Spencer Baum. Also completed Soldier by Julie Kagawa early this morning and a fairytale novella last Monday. Will review novella on Wednesday.

4. Plan to see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and X-Men Apocalypse this week.

Thanks for stopping by and do you have anything planned for this week. Feel free to share, if you want....to.

IWSG: The Sum of Things

I am happy today to say today is the first Wednesday of a new month which means time for another IWSG. Everyone who participates gets to share their insecurities with supportive listeners and at times just go into into triumphs and offers of encouragement. To start off let me offer you all a lifetime of happiness, love, understanding, joy and endurance. We all have good and bad times and what matters is how we emerge from the other side and those we help along the way.

Now unto my insecurity. As you know if you have regularly read my posts on my blog that I have issues with exhaustion. Sometimes it can get severe. Life is so much more than one person, place or planet. What I have been thinking about a lot recently is how things are adding up. I have been slowing down because I just can't do things like I used to. During this year's 2016 A to Z Challenge I pushed through a particularly hard time because not only was there a lingering exhaustion but I had a really bad case of the flu. At one point I dropped a cup of water and very nearly passed out. Thankfully I live in the family home and it was one of mother's off days from her part-time teaching job since retiring from full time teaching. She was able to help watch over me until we were sure the worst had passed. Even then I was still able to push through and for a time in early May I was feeling somewhat better and definitely on the very lovely road of recovery.

Then late May came and even today I still feel very exhausted. Last night I took a few minutes break from working and fell asleep. Woke up after 3 a.m. in the morning. There is only so much one person can do when what they are grappling with is their health. Three years ago I was told I had arthritis in one of my knees. Since last year I have been having more and more consistent joint pain. The one that bothers me most is the pain in my arms and more recently my fingers. I have noticed how despite my love for writing with a pen how little I have done much of that for the past few months. Years ago I was the writer who hated typing. Now it seems without me realizing it, typing has become both my best and safest outlet for putting my words on the page.

In a past post I said I hope to find out exactly what is wrong by June/July. Based on how I was doing a while back our family doctor had put me down for a battery of tests. When I have gotten enough money together to do them the list ranges from potential minor illnesses to serious. While I can't say for sure what it is until I go in, based off what has been happening I do have a feeling. Whether I am right or wrong will be seen in the near future.

So you might still be wondering what exactly is my insecurity? Is it the illness or the exhaustion? Yes but that's not why I am sharing this with you today. My insecurity this month and for a while now was sharing what you just read. Yes even with all that's going on I was thinking of you guys. I have known a few bloggers over the years who have recovered from certain illnesses and those who haven't. There are even those who have to live a lifetime with an illness that just has no cure. No matter where anyone falls in it is not easy to tell loved ones you are not well. I consider you guys in such a category. So here I am sharing this with you trying not to cry.

In other news today is Junowrimo and Bunowrimo. Yes I'm still doing it. Sorry but I can't change. More precisely, I won't. Thanks for stopping by today and feel free to worry about me but don't you dare stop going about your day. Much love and faith from your friendly blogger Sheena-kay.