Words, toddlers, and zombies. My week in a nutshell. #FridayFeed #amwriting

Friday Feed . . . Doing things and stuff.

Call me Karen. (writing words)

Words. Words are happening, peoples. I'm only a thousand shiny new ones away from the HALFWAY mark on my middle grade work-in-progress. Holy WOW. The words have not been super easy this week, but they've definitely been steady. To make certain I get between 800-1000 words per day, I've been writing at 6:30am before the kiddo wakes up. Again whilst the kiddo naps. And if I haven't met my word count, I write after he goes to bed. 

This manuscript, man. I'm in love.

Luke, I am your mother. (kiddo corner)

Been a fun week--except for a mild case of puking, more on that in a minute. Monday was all the gorgeous and waaaarm. Went to the park, but Lukey wasn't having any of that outdoors crap (crazy boy). So we went to the gym instead--where he gets to play with little kids, unplug the water-fountain, and walk around like a zombie.

Tuesday we had story time at the library, and omigosh, Lukey was all over the place. lol Wednesday we had a playdate in Williamsburg with our good friend Judith and her littlest (Ps. click that link to browse her super cool eBay clothing shop).

Thursday was a rain-in kinda day. Mainly just tried to recover from puking the night before. I dunno what it is, but I swear I pick up some kind of puking disease every other time I go to the gym. Do people not wash their freaking hands??

I digress. Feeling much better. Today we have another playdate. Wherein I don't have to cook. Yay. Saturday the Hubs will be watching Lukey, whilst I eat some brains. Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies, baby! 

Few super cute things the kiddo is doing at 16 months: squealing like a stuck hog during his sleep, signing 'all done' when he's had enough to eat, poking his finger really hard on the table when he wants more food, and knocking on the window to make cars drive by.

Pix for your viewing pleasure . . . 

Just keep swimming. (all the randomness) 

So, a long, long time ago. Back in the year 2011, I watched two episodes of Grimm and was all: no, thanks. Well, five years later--and considering they're still making new episodes--I decided to give it another try. What was wrong with Past Karen?? Present Karen is massively intrigued by this show. Let the binge-fest continue. 

BONUS: My local RWA chapter is having our annual conference on 5 March in Williamsburg, VA. So if you can make it, come on out. More info here.

Enjoy my Friday Feed? Here's more to delight you.

29 January

22 January 

15 January 

8 January

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Colors of the rainbow are very good to know . . . karen

My RWA Chapter's 3rd Annual “Finish the Damn Book!” Contest is OPEN! #writemotivation

(Reblogged from my RWA sister, Jenna Jaxon. Ohhh, guess what?? My lovely agent Terrie Wolf is one of the final judges!!!!)

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a member of the Chesapeake Romance Writers, my local chapter of Romance Writers of America.  Two years ago we inaugurated an annual writing contest in memory of our long-time member Judi McCoy, author of fourteen romances and the very popular “Dogwalker” romantic mystery series.

Judi was a driving force in our chapter, a mentor to new writers, a great critique partner, and an avid dog lover.  Her beloved bichon frise, Rudy, was a rescue dog and Judy supported the Tidewater Bichon Frise Rescue organization where she adopted him.

To honor the memory of Judi and Rudy, Chesapeake Romance Writers is once again holding our “Finish the Damn Book!” Contest. That was one of Judi’s favorite pieces of advice to all of us writers and we thought it an apropos title for this contest.  If you’ve finished a book, at least 55K in length, please consider submitting it to our contest.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Tidewater Bichon Frise Rescue organization in memory of Judi and Rudy.

Complete details on the contest are now available on our Chesapeake Romance Writers website or you can email me (Jenna) crwc@rocketmail.com with any questions, but I’ll give you the highlights here.

The contest is open to both published and unpublished authors, although the work submitted must be unpublished AND remain unpublished or uncontracted until after the contest.  Should an entered work become contracted or published before the contest ends, the work will be withdrawn from consideration and the entry fee will not be refunded.

To enter you need to submit the first and last chapters of your unpublished 55K+ manuscript (no prologues or epilogues), plus a two-page synopsis of the entire work that will not be judged.  Total submission must not exceed 40 pages.

This year we are going GREEN–only electronic entries will be accepted.  You should submit two things: 1) the Contest Entry Form, available on the CRW website, and 2) the first and last chapters plus a two-page synopsis of the book in one single (1) Rich Text file.

Entrants will receive the First Round Judges’ Score Sheets with comments.  No comments will be made on the manuscripts themselves.  The three top scoring works in each category will advance to the Finals Round and will be ranked by the Category Finals Judge.

Contest opens:  August 1, 2014
Deadline for Entry Fee and Submission:  Midnight, September 30, 2014
Categories include:  Contemporary, Paranormal, Historical, Mainstream with Romantic Elements, Young Adult/New Adult, and this year we are adding EROTIC ROMANCE.

Finalist Judges for the contest are still being confirmed and will be announced shortly.
Winners will be announced at our chapter  meeting on January 10, 2015.
Entry Fee:  $15.00 for RWA members, $25.00 for non-RWA members

All Finalists will receive a certificate and a banner for their website.
First place Winners in each category will receive a Rudy Statuette and a check for $50.00.
I hope you will consider entering our 3rd annual “Finish the Damn Book!” Contest.  You’ll get great feedback and the chance to get your work before some excellent agents and editors in the publishing industry.  If you have questions for me, you can ask via comments or my Contact Me page.
I hope to see your name on a finalist list come October 31!

COME ON!  FINISH THAT DAMNED BOOK! :)

Reblog: 2nd Annual “Finish the Damn Book!” Contest via @Jenna_Jaxon #RWA

2nd Annual “Finish the Damn Book!” Contest...Originally posted on September 2, 2013 by Jenna Jaxon

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a member of the Chesapeake Romance Writers, my local chapter of Romance Writers of America. Last year we inaugurated an annual writing contest in memory of our long-time member Judi McCoy, author of fourteen romances and the very popular “Dogwalker” romantic mystery series.

Judi was a driving force in our chapter, a mentor to new writers, a great critique partner, and an avid dog lover. Her beloved bichon frise, Rudy, was a rescue dog and Judy supported the Tidewater Bichon Frise Rescue organization where she adopted him.

To honor the memory of Judi and Rudy, Chesapeake Romance Writers is once again holding our “Finish the Damn Book!” Contest. That was one of Judi’s favorite pieces of advice to all of us writers and we thought it an apropos title for this contest. If you’ve finished a book, at least 55K in length, please consider submitting it to our contest. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Tidewater Bichon Frise Rescue organization in memory of Judi and Rudy.

Complete details on the contest are coming shortly to our Chesapeake Romance Writers website or you can email me crwc@rocketmail.com with any questions, but I’ll give you the highlights here.

The contest is open to both published and unpublished authors, although the work submitted must be unpublished AND remain unpublished or uncontracted until after the contest. Should an entered work become contracted or published before the contest ends, the work will be withdrawn from consideration and the entry fee will not be refunded.

To enter you need to submit the first and last chapters of your unpublished 55K+ manuscript (no prologues or epilogues), plus a synopsis of the entire work that will not be judged. Total submission must not exceed 40 pages.

Contest opens: September 1, 2013

Deadline for Entry Fee: Midnight October 31, 2013

Deadline for Submissions: Midnight October 31, 2013

Categories include: Contemporary, Paranormal, Historical, Mainstream with Romantic Elements, and Young Adult/New Adult.

Three finalists from each category will advance to Finals Judging.

Finalist Judges for the contest to be announced shortly.

Winners will be announced at our chapter meeting on February 8, 2014.

Entry Fee: $25.00 for RWA members, $35.00 for non-RWA members

All Finalists will receive a certificate and a banner for their website. First place Winners in each category will receive a Rudy Statuette and a check for $50.00. All entrants will receive detailed feedback on their first-round score sheets.

I hope you will consider entering our 2nd annual “Finish the Damn Book!” Contest. You’ll get great feedback and the chance to get your work before some excellent agents and editors in the publishing industry. If you have questions for me, you can ask via comments or my Contact Me page.

I hope to see your name on a finalist list come November 30!

Midweek Mayhem: The beast bellowed... End him. LONGING #Snippet7 #DragonsFTW #NA

Working it out…

• (Still Happening :P) Check it out >>> I'm participating in Night Owl Reviews Scavenger Hunt! Deets here. I'm giving away a signed copy of Witch Way to Turn and a $25 Amazon giftcard!
• (NEW--Vote) My dear friend Jenna Jaxon's book cover--designed by the lovely and talented Danielle Fine--is up for cover of the month! Please vote >>> here. Muah! ♥
• (NEW) My lovely friend (Avery Olive's) agent journey! Check it here.
• (NEW) The Worst Week Ever by Liza O'Connor...Blog tour with $$ giveaway! Stop by here.
• (NEW) Witch Way to Turn moves on to the final round of the Aspen Gold Contest!!!! Librarians, here I come!!

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The Becoming Playlist!

Wanted to share some of the songs that inspired me as I wrote Becoming...

I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys

Hearing voices…

Cover art by Danielle Fine

• Check out my stunning cover inspiration for my dark and gritty new adult urban fantasy with cursed dragon shifters (right beside this paragraph) designed by the talented Danielle Fine!!!
• Twitter pitch for Becoming: After a transplant gives Zoe a dragon shifter’s heart, she learns that her online boyfriend is her donor and...a girl.

************

 ♥Today I'm sharing snippet #7 from the Becoming prequel titled Longing (unedited and in Taylor's POV)! Read Snippets here: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6. Excited for y'all to get to know my dragons better :) 
Longing - Chapter 1 (snippet #7)... 

“We can find another girl. Make it a party. Or I can just wat—”

“No,” she snapped.

“So it’s just over then?” His voice had an edge to it. “I thought we had something special?”

She nodded. “I… I hoped we had. I didn’t want to hurt you. You’re a good person.”

“Fine.” He turned away and walked back to the bed. “Rich, bitch,” he mumbled as he crawled back under the covers. “Get out.” Icy pricks pimpled her skin. The sunlight coming in through the window began to darken as her vision dulled. Colors faded as anger pulsed through her veins.

How dare he speak to me like that, the beast bellowed in her mind. End him.

************

Cover art by Danielle Fine

Waiting game...

• On week #19 of waiting to hear back from a lovely agent who is reading Running From Shadows.
• Requests currently out for Becoming are 8 total! Squee!!!  *fingers and toes crossed* 

Reading...

• Finished When It's Least Expected by Heather Van Fleet. 5 hearts!! Review coming soon!
  ♥♥♥♥♥
• Finished my first Stephen King book eva!! Carrie was absolutely made of awesome! The head-hopping irked me slightly, but the story and voice were so fantastic that it didn't matter! ♥♥♥♥♥
• Looking for book recommendations and reviews for your 2013 TBR List? Check out The Perks of Being a Book Nerd! 

Bonus material... 

*Writers, looking for a talented editor? I highly recommend Danielle Fine. She's edited four manuscripts of mine and has taught me so much! I'm a stronger writer because of her guidance. Also, she designed my beautiful inspiration cover art for Becoming and Running From Shadows! Annnnd she created the book trailer for Witch Way to Turn! 
*For more information on Dani's editing services, cover design, book trailer creation and website design stop by her site >>>> here!

************
Random Alert! Alert. Alert. Alert...  

Sooo, these are some big arse earrings! A friend joked that they could be an abacus :P I totally giggled cos it's true!

The demon pup beheads his toys and leaves them to die alone :P

Totally ate at a restaurant that was on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in ATL!!!! Holla! I got breakfast food ;)

Sat next to an awesome lady at one of the RWA workshops and of course when I spotted her owl ring (ahhhh, no pun intended, I swear) I had to ask her for a pic... Owls rock!

This... Just because :P

Why, yes, yes that is an owl necklace I'm wearing :)) Ohh, and that's my RWA badge with my YA flower on it... Yup, random.

Hot Atlanta as we drove into the city for RWA last week! Great time!!! Even tho there were FOUR women in ONE hotel room, we had a blast!! My CRW chapter-mates rock! <33

My demon-slaying unicorn MS won FIRST place!! Squee!! Wanna show you something ;) To celebrate I'm giving away...

Cover art by Danielle Fine

Hello, my darlings! Happy New Year!! I'm welcoming in 2013 with some exciting news that I couldn't wait to share with you!! 

Running From Shadows has won FIRST PLACE in the Reveal Your Inner Vixen contest!!!! Squee!!!

So to celebrate I'm giving away a $25 giftcard of your choice (Amazon, B&N or Starbucks)!! Just 'like' my FB Author page (here) and tell me that you did.

That's all! Ohh, and if you have already 'liked' my FB Author page, then just 'share' this post and tell me that you did. Easy. Peasy. ;) I'll announce the winner on my Midweek Mayhem blog post next Wednesday, 9th of January!

My certificate and Vixen pin (left bottom corner)!!

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But, wait! There's more... :P Wanted to share (two) pages from my Running From Shadows entry! This is when Pax and Greta first meet (at least, that's when she thinks they first met)....
 

(The second scene in Chapter 2: Marked)

     I didn’t know if I could stand, let alone walk. But I had to get away from here, and the sooner the better. Not making eye contact with anyone, I uncrossed my arms, pushed out from the table and stood, ready to put as much distance as possible between myself and this prison. Adrenaline fed my veins. I ran straight into the hallway and flung open the screen door.

     The cool mountain air prickled my bare arms and legs as I sped down the front steps. At the corner of the house, I paused long enough to sling off my heels, the porch light making my shadow monstrous as it mimicked the movement.

     I ran.

     After passing the sunflower field, I raced toward the willow which wept over the pathway into the forest. Thick, squishy grass below my feet turned into hard twigs and rough ground the closer I got to the edge of the woods. Moonlight washed over the treetops and spilled out along the path in front of me. I pushed on.

     Angry tears blurred my vision. I held them in. I wouldn’t cry over this. This wasn’t happening. No way, Jack. Not to me. There had to be an out. Maybe when I turned eighteen in two months?

     Hell. Who was I kidding? I couldn’t understand why the Trinity would agree to this but, despite it verging on black magick, it was done. The contract was signed. Binding.

     When my feet started to ache, I ran harder. My head pounded, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. This was the second worst day of my life. I still hadn’t gotten over the first.

     My lungs screamed for oxygen. My heart hammered against my chest, driving blood through my veins so fast my ears rang.

     The trees began to clear when I reached a small stream. I paused to catch my breath and search for a shallow spot to cross the water. Sinking down to the ground, I held my face in my hands. All I’d wanted was some closure, a way to atone and move past Jill’s death, find some normalcy in my life. 

Go to UNC Asheville in the fall. Forget about Bain.

     Instead, my coven had sold me to the one person I had good reason to fear. And my mother, my Benedict Arnold of a mother, had betrayed me. I was abandoned to the dark sky splattered with stars. The vastness of it suffocated me.

     Through the stillness of the night I heard a shriek, as if hell had been slit open. The sound of every witch’s worst nightmare, coming to devour her. But shadow demons weren’t real. They were just a legend. A scary story told around séance fires. Right?

     I stood and spun, looking for the source of the hideous sound, hoping I didn’t find it. My dress whirled around me as a biting breeze sent a shiver down my spine. A scream caught in my throat, itching to be freed.

     Suddenly, the sky seemed to shift. Darkness sped toward me. Goddess, it had wings… And talons. I turned to run and it crashed into me, driving me face first to the ground and pinning me down with its cold weight. This was it. My punishment. Justice, finally.

     There was a white hot agony along my shoulder blade. I didn’t fight. I deserved this. She shouldn’t have died. It should’ve been me.

     Darkness pushed into me, ripped at my insides, filled me up. I welcomed death.

     Seconds later, I was scooped up into strong arms, held tight in an embrace that instantly made me feel safe, made me feel…home.

     “Who are you?” I asked, and even I could hear the edge of wonder in my voice.

     He looked down at me and his eyes were silvered by moonlight, and familiar somehow. The world spun around us. There was a name caught like a promise between teeth and tongue, just out of reach.      Then he looked away, and it was just me and this strange boy, who’d come out of nowhere and…picked me up.

     “Who are you?” This time the edge had turned to anger. Suspicion. Thank Goddess.

     His gaze shifted from surveying the forest to me. I shivered. “The guy who’s saving your ass.”

     “From what? What the hell is—”

     “Quiet,” he said before taking off.

     As he ran the stars spiraled overhead, a dizzy kaleidoscope that snatched my breath away. With everything that’d happened, I should be afraid. But I wasn’t. He would never let anything happen to me.

     He gave up everything to protect me. He gave up—

     My head hurt. Throbbed. Goddess, what was I thinking? I didn’t even know this boy. Then why was he racing off with me? Why was I letting him, for that matter?

     Focus, Greta.

     He slowed and I opened my eyes to find a small log cabin ahead. A soft yellow light glowed in the windows as smoke drifted from the chimney. I shivered.

     He held me closer. For a moment, I let the tension in my shoulders melt away. For that stolen moment, it was just me and him. Forever.

     Snap out of it, Greta. You are, in fact, being abducted.

My Midweek Mayhem, Hard Decisions, Contests and Random Weekend Pictures... #amblogging

Happy Midweek Y'all!

Working it out…

• Squee!!!! Woke up this morning to exciting news... Running From Shadows is a Finalist in the Heartland Romance Authors Show Me the Spark contest!!!!! :D
• I've submitted Running From Shadows to Harper Voyager! *crosses fingers* They are now accepting submissions from non-agented writers.
• I've entered Witch Way to Turn into the Chapter One Submissions contest! Check it here, if you'd like to participate. Better hurry though, only first 50 will get in!
• I find out later this week if Running From Shadows--a finalist in the Heart of the West contest (Utah Chapter of Romance Writers of America) won! *toes crossed since my fingers are already crossed for the other contest*
• My local Chapter of RWA--Chesapeake Romance Writers is hosting a contest! Check it out here for a chance to get your manuscript in front of agents and editors!

Hearing voices…

Me trying desperately not to drop my phone!

• Things are coming along nicely for the yet-to-be-titled alien novella. I'm nearing 13k words--have gotten slightly sidetracked by another story that I can't get outta my head...so am working on both at the same time for now. The goal for the alien novella is 40k. As I talk about the alien story, which takes place in San Francisco, California... I'll be posting some pictures from the trip my hubby and I took there last year. This pic is on the ferry ride to the prison (Alcatraz Island). In my novella this is where everyone on their 18th birthday is taken to be tested, and if you're a DNA Match--well, let's just say...you don't wanna be a match!
• Working on Witch Way book #2 revisions!
• Here's a teaser from book #2 I'm super happy with (as always, no spoilers to book #1 or #2).
• (Breena's POV) By the time she’d finished talking to Orin and Myles about the crazy cocktail of ancient djinn blood coursing through her screwed up half and half veins, it was time to leave for work.

Waiting game…

Cover Art by Danielle Fine

• On week #17 of waiting to hear back from a lovely agent who is reading Running From Shadows.*continues to keep fingers and toes crossed and keeps querying*
• On week #9 of waiting to hear back from the editor I pitched to at the RWA conference in July. *also continues to keep all possible body parts crossed*
• (Update)... I had an extremely hard decision to make about one of the agents who I pitched to at Nationals. She made me an offer! But, after consulting the brain-trust, thinking about it, obsessing over it and praying about it... I came to the conclusion that it just wasn't the right opportunity for me. It was literally one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, but I know I'm doing the right thing. I have to keep reminding myself that--as passionate as I am about writing and my stories--this is a business and tough choices have to be made.

Reading...

• Am currently reading Keir by Pippa Jay (romance/science fiction)! Powerful and emotional read so far! Outcast. Cursed. Dying. Is Keir beyond redemption? 62% in and loving it! Just wish I had more time to read! One day :)
• A favorite snippet from Keir: He felt her presence in his mind still, like cool hands soothing his fevered thoughts. It both disturbed and comforted him. Was she an angel in human guise? Or some demon sent to torment him before delivering him to his final hell?

Bonus material...
*Tune back in for SSS on Sunday for more steamy goodness from Running From Shadows!
*Would love to get more Likes for my author page! Click here... Thanks!
*Need more Likes for my publisher Lyrical Press... Please click here! Thanks!! 
*Beautiful Cover Art for Running From Shadows by Danielle Fine... Check her website for more cover art, editing and book trailer services.

Random Alert! Random. Alert. Alert. Alert... 

This past weekend my BFF and her hubby came to visit! They live in South Carolina--about 8 hours from Mikey and me in Virginia--so we don't get to see them often. We had so much fun! Went to a brewery, made mixed drinks, cooked, shopped, went to see Looper, ate out, took them to visit Fort Monroe where we walked around in the dark and it was like a zombie movie!

My BFF and I have been best friends since I chased her down on the playground in the fourth grade and made her be my friend. LOL Yup, that's how I roll! :)

Becca and Me rockin' our sunglasses after lunch by the ocean!

At the brewery...the beer bottles had dragons on them! Dragons!!!! Yes!

It's best to be prepared. My go-to drink: Disaronno and Diet Ginger Ale. So good!

Cheers to 20 years of friendship!

Bec looks great and I look like I have the crazy eyes! Be afraid...be very afraid!

At the beach...well, you can sorta see the water...it's the black blob in the background ;)

At Ft. Monroe...AKA zombie-town!

The wall looked like it had stitches. Yes, that is the only reason why I took this pic. Random!!!!