#Running Groups

I have never been in a running group. Running has always seemed like a solitary activity. But I was invited a week or two ago to join a running group with a friend. I started to decline when I rethought my position on it. Sure no one likes to be sweaty and gross around other people, but why wasn’t I doing it?
Since my first running kick last year, I have fallen off the bandwagon and it has been like torture to make myself get back on. I get home from work, and I am tired. I have ten thousand things I need to do, and it is hard make the time. So running always gets pushed to the back burner. With a running group I have real, actual people waiting for me–depending on me to show up. If that isn’t motivation, I don’t know what is.


Second, I used to think of writing as a solitary activity until I joined a writing group. It may have been the best decision I have ever made. I love my writing group. They have all been an amazing inspiration for me. Hopefully the running group works the same.

So I broke the pattern and said yes. I am now a member of a running group.  I am doing the Jingle Bell 5k in December. I want to improve my time, run the whole thing, and hopefully continue with the races. Once I conquer this 5k business I can move on to 10ks.

Writing is for mind, eating right is for my body, running is for my soul. (Okay maybe that is cheesy, it is definitely for my stress though)

#Giveaways!!!

I have been busy marketing this week. There are still tons of opportunities to win Dark Corners going on right now, check out Liz On Tour. I am also doing some guest blogging and articles. There is a "How to" article about how to make some of my Halloween decorations over at Time 4 Mommy. On October 10th I am doing a guest post about my stay at the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis over at I Love Books and I have an incredibly cool giveaway. Zombie Survival messenger bag? Perhaps!

I also have some very exciting blog hops coming up. One the week of Halloween, The Trick or Treat hop, were I will be offering Dark Corners for free all week and you can get other fantastic books for free, come by for details! The Winner Wonderland giveaway hop, another awesome opportunity to win cool prizes.The Green Christmas giveaway blog hop, environmentally friendly prizes. And the most exciting one Independent Inklings Christmas Kindle giveaway. One lucky person will win a Kindle and ebooks from every participating author!! How cool is that. So make sure you stop by any of these hops and enter to win. Or if your are interesting in participating in any of them let me know and I will give you the information. 

I am so excited!

Teaser Tuesday- Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

"The only phone on the island. I looked over at it--it was the kind that had a door you could pull shut for privacy, like the ones you see in old movies--and realized with dawning horror that this was the Grecian orgy, this was the raging frat party I had been connected to when I called the island a few weeks ago. This was piss hole."
I am a third of the way through this marvelous story written by Ransom Riggs. Based on what I have read so far I highly recommend it.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Add the title and Author's name too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR pile.

TV Round Up

So much tv, so little time. I am not one of those people who doesn't watch television. I watch it and love it, especially during new fall line up. So what did I watch in the past week?

Monday:
Two and a Half Men- I admit I am little more than a gawker here. I didn't really watch the old one except in reruns, but I was curious how they were going to get rid of Charlie. Parts of it were funny and it might be able to pull it off without him, but I personally think they lost a lot of the charm the show had before. I probably will not be returning to it.
2 Broke Girls- This made me laugh several times, especially love the part when they were talking about her boyfriend abs as making smart girls stupid. I will definitely be DVRing this one.
Castle- I love Castle. When it first came out I didn't want to watch it because it was another cop show, but I am glad I did. It is such a good show and I love that Castle is 1. Nathan Fillion and 2. a writer. The premiere this season was so good. It picked up nearly where it left off last season with Beckett getting shot. I was really curious through the first ten minutes or so what they were doing with Castle and Beckett, but by the end of the episode I was once again happily enthralled. 

Tuesday:
The Ringer: I watched two episodes of this this week because I never watched the one I DVRed from the previous week. Sarah Michelle Gellar returns to play twins. I wasn't sure about it after the first episode, but the second one pulled me in more. It already promises a lot of twists and turns and I am curious where it is going to go.
Unforgettable: This is another cop show (I know, I know) with Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck) and Poppy Montgomery (Without a Trace). It was okay. I don't know if it will pick up a coveted DVR position. It is about a former detective and current gambler who seems to have perfect recall. It reminds me a bit of that older show the Profiler (which I loved) except without the extreme crimes and intensity. Anyway something happened in her past which she cannot recall that haunts her. She teams up with her ex-boyfriend and cop Dylan Walsh to solve the murder of one of her neighbors. I will watch it a second time, but I am on the fence.

Wednesday:
Up All Night- Will Arnett (Arrested Development <3) and Christina Applegate lead this sitcom about two new parents dealing with a baby, work, and each other. Parts were funny, but I didn't connect. Maybe because I don't have kids. I wanted to like it so much too. Sigh. I will give it another chance. 
Modern Family- The premiere might have been my favorite Modern Family show ever. It was hilarious beginning to end. Could this cast be anymore perfect? Seriously, love it.
Criminal Minds- This was an interesting episode that brought back what we lost last season. I am glad they wrapped up that story line. I honestly watch Criminal Minds for the serial killers so I would like to get back to that.

Thursday:
The Mentalist- I actually watched this last night. It was a good episode and Jane is hard not to love. The end disappointed me slightly, but not enough to make me not want to watch his shenanigans.
Prime Suspect- I have been very interested in this BBC remake. I didn't mind the first episode, but I haven't set up a season pass yet (probably will this week). I like Maria Bello. I like that she wasn't a super woman. She gets her ass kicked, no one wants her to be there and it hurts her, and her love life isn't perfect. I am interested because it seems more real than most of what is on tv.

Friday:
Haven: *This will contain spoilers* Squee! I love Haven, especially Nathan and Audrey. I am so happy they finally refer to their feelings (they didn't actually talk about it but that's okay) and they finally kiss. With the Rev gone and tensions getting tighter it is only a matter of time before the wire snaps. The episode make serious headway into the confusing life of Audrey and into Duke's back story as well. I can't wait for the finale this week but at the same time I have the sneaking suspicion they will cliffhanger me and I HATE that. 

What I missed-
A Gifted Man: Really wanted to see this one too. Must check On Demand.
Archer
The New Girl
Person of Interest
Supernatural: Never fear though, I have this one recorded. The only reason I didn't watch it is because I wanted to watch the finale from last season before I watched the new episode, but haven't had time. I will definitely catch up before this Friday. P.S. I miss Supernatural being on Thursday.


That's what I have so far. What have I missed? What did you watch that I should check out?

Halloween decorations

Well, four blisters from the hot glue gun later I have all my Halloween decorations up and photographed. Now all I have left is to write the article about how I did the decorations and how they compare with what the magazine said. I will link to it when that is up, but for now I have pictures. Woohoo!

The front porch

 I used a pie rack, leaves and some gourds to make a kitchen decoration.

This has my favorite decoration in it. It is the hand-craved witch I bought when I visited the Black Forest in Germany. Beneath I made a cauldron of poisoned apples. Muahahaahha

 On top of the piano I have my spider pumpkin tea light holders I made. 

 The Poe display might be my favorite one this year. 

Interview with Jeremy Bates!

Author, Jeremy Bates, stopped by Bat Country today to chat with me his process. #amwriting  His book, White Lies, comes out May 7th, 2012. Check his very cool web site http://www.jeremybatesbooks.com/ and book trailer.

White Lies blurb- While driving to a charming village tucked away deep in the Cascade Mountains of eastern Washington, where she is to begin a new job teaching high school English, Katrina Burton picks up a young hitchhiker who turns out to be drunk and predatory.  Fearful for her safety, she lies about her destination in order to get him out of the car.  But when she later discovers that he is a teacher at the same school, she finds herself feeding that initial lie with more lies.
Then Katrina meets a mysterious man.  Handsome, charismatic and strong, he is exactly what she needs to extricate her from the expanding network of lies, now spinning out of control.  She falls fast and hard for him.
But her perfect solution soon becomes a nightmare that lands her in the middle of a grisly murder.  And Katrina’s problems don’t stop there.  She must decide whether to betray her new love or to cover up the murder and hope for the best…until she discovers that the choice may not be hers to make.

Now let's get started!

What genre do you write in?

I write suspense/thriller. More specifically, I call the kind of books I write "situational thrillers." Regular people in bad situations. Sort of like Scott Smith's A Simple Plan. What would you do if you found four million dollars?

What is your process? (do you plan, outline, let the characters guide you, research before or during, etc)

Once I have an idea, I'll let it sit in my head for a couple weeks. Then I'll jot down a few pages of notes outlining a very general plot and info on the main characters. But after that I just go with it. Any research that comes up I do as I write.

How do you get into your character's frame of mind?

I think that just happens naturally. The characters are pretty thin when I start out. But after I get into the story, they sort of find themselves. Then I'll often have to go back and fix them up in the beginning, once I know them better.

Do you listen to music while you write? What is your favorite song for emotional scenes?


Definitely! I have no favorite song for any kind of scene. I could be writing an emotional scene and listening to AC/DC! Whatever is coming through the headphones at that time. Funny enough, if I mention a song in a novel, it's usually what I was listening while I was writing.

What have you published and what are you currently working on?
My debut novel is called White Lies. It will be released by Oceanview Publishing on May 7, 2012. I’m currently working on the next novel (still untitled at this point!)

What is your favorite book?
Tough question! There are so many. But I really like The Shining by Stephen King.

What is your favorite movie?
Again—tough to choose just one! The Talented Mr. Ripley (great book too!)

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
I don’t have a specific favorite. But in general I tend to like the villains. They’re always fun to write and you can get away with a lot of stuff with them that you can’t with the heroes (like shooting people, doing drugs, whatever).

PROUST Questions:

What is your favorite word?
Okay.

What is your least favorite word?
No.

What turns you on?
Women.

What turns you off?
Camels.

What sound or noise do you love?
The ocean.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Car horns.

What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
A rock star!

What profession would you not like to do?
Acting.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Here’s the key.


Thanks!

Weekend Reading: This Brilliant Darkness by Red Tash

Hello all! My #amreading book this weekend is This Brilliant Darkness. The author, Red Tash, was kind enough to come to Bat Country to do a guest post. Enjoy!

Liz, thanks for hosting me on your blog this Friday for Weekend Reading.  I love the Halloween theme you’re rocking!

First of all, I have to confess that I, too, am a Scorpio, and autumn is my favorite time of year.  Halloween is definitely Red Tash’s favorite holiday, if I do say so, myself (in the third person). 

I just released my first novel (into the wild), and to celebrate, I’m having a huge Trick or Treat Bash over at my blog.  Here’s the link: http://RedTash.com/bash  I do hope some of your readers will enter my prize giveaway, because there’s a new Kindle up for grabs, Amazon gift cards, and well over three dozen novels from some of today’s most prolific authors.  w00t!  The lucky winners are going to be reading for free for months.

So, let me tell you a little something about This Brilliant Darkness.  It’s a short novel, and fast-paced, yet it still manages to tell a story of good versus evil as events unfold through the viewpoints of multiple characters.  It’s a book for people who don’t like being talked down to—hey, I’m smart, and I assume my readers are, as well.  I don’t spend a lot of time pandering and hand-holding, but there is a cast of characters at the beginning of the book, and an online map, if you’re into those. 

In This Brilliant Darkness, we take off running, and each chapter ends with a cliffhanger. 

Along the way, we get to know:

·         Christine, our quirky heroine--a young professor on Indiana University’s scenic campus.  She loves her morning coffee, her hunky hippie boyfriend (mostly), and hanging out with the local Buddhist monks.  She hates modern technology, and the feeling she’s being watched.  Will she realize she’s being stalked in time to save herself?

·         Greachin, the ages-old entity too damaged to realize he’s his own worst enemy, obsessed with Christine and intent on doing her in.  Although he’s harnessed the power to mutate organic matter into any form he can imagine, will he triumph over his own darkness?  Does he even want to?

·         Among the rest, the charmingly odd, smallish-urban town of Bloomington, Indiana stands out as a character of its own.  Populated by cosplaying environmentalists & street-person barbershop quartets, you never know what you’re going to run into next on the streets of B-town.  Especially when you dare to take a shortcut through Greachin’s woods.

Our main character Christine is born on Halloween, and she’s all decked out in her costume for the annual town parade on the night of big throwdown between her and the evil Greachin.  She’s such a coffee junkie, she naturally finds a Juan Valdez get-up for her birthday shindig.  But will she make it to the party alive?

This Brilliant Darkness is just $.99, and currently available on Amazon, Smashwords, and the iBooks store.  It’ll be in a few other places soon, so check my site if you’re loyal to a store not listed here.

##

http://RedTash.com  My site

http://redtash.com/ThisBrilliantDarkness  More about the characters from TBD, and links to purchase

Inside Writer Studio: Stephanie Nelson

Hello! Today I am talking to the author of Craved, Stephanie Nelson. I read her book a few weeks back and loved it. If you like paranormal romance or just fun magical worlds you will love it too. Stephanie was kind enough to chat with me about her book last night (I do mean a literal chat) enjoy our sometimes tangenty talking. 

Liz Schulte- Hello, Stephanie Nelson!

Stephanie Nelson- Hello, Liz Schulte

Liz- Stephanie is a friend from my writer's group who agreed to do this interview with me last night at 9:30 because I need a post for today. She is an awesome person and writer, but I will let her tell you about who she is.

Stephanie- I'm a simple girl from Illinois where I live with my wonderful husband. A lot of people ask me if I always wanted to be a writer. The truth is, I hated reading when i was younger. I would occasionally read Goosebump books by R.L Stine but even those couldn't hold my interest for very long. Aside from writing notebooks full of poems, I disliked everything written. It wasn't until I picked up Twilight by Stephanie Meyer that I understood how someone could fall in love with a book. The Twilight sage ignited my love of books that quickly grew into an addiction. Before I had owned maybe two books, and now I own over 200. I have since moved on from sparkly fangless vampires but I will always be thankful to Mrs. Meyer for writing such an incredible series and instilling in me a love of books.

Like every other addiction, mine grew. Reading countless books just wasn't enough for me, I needed to create my own. The story of Gwen formed in my head a little over 4 years ago but at the time the story was drastically different. The vampires still had an addiction for witches blood but I hadn't mastered what I was trying to say, so I gave up. Writing was a lot harder than I had imagined and I often grew frustrated and discouraged. I continued to write different stories, only to abandon them and start another. Eventually, I gave up all together. I was certain I couldn't become an author and that it was only a pipe dream. A year later, I sat at my computer and began to type again. I may have felt beaten by the writer's world but I was determined not to give up forever. I began writing a book and got to around 68,000 words (a normal novel is 80,000) and then the story of Gwen and the vampires who were addicted to witches blood, popped into my head and I gave up on my almost finished novel to write it. Craved was a story that was insistent and wouldn't leave me alone until I finished writing it.


It took me 7 months to finish Craved and once I was done I was so proud of myself for actually completing a book. I didn't plan on publishing any of my work, i just wanted to write for the fun of it. It wasn't until H.P Mallory invited me to her writer's group and I started learning from fellow writers about self-publishing. I talked with my husband about publishing and he was gun-ho from the beginning. I, on the other hand, was as extremely nervous. I had put so much heart and work into finishing Craved. I worried no one would like it and was apprehensive about sharing my story with the entire world.
I finally decided to publish in July 2011 and the acceptance that Craved has gotten is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Praises from my readers is the best reward I could ever get and will be forever thankful for those who've supported it.


If you have an imagination, anything is possible = )


While I'm not writing, which is hardly ever, I spend entirely too much time on Facebook, watch movies, try to read, play with my furry children, and spend time with my family. I'm a very down to earth girl who just happens to be living my dream.

Liz- Please tell us about your book?

Stephanie- Craved is about Gwen Sparks, a witch who is able to read the memories of the dead. She's unaware that the power has a darker meaning and is a learning a little about it as she goes. She reads a headline in the newspaper about a witch that was found drained and know's her power could help the local police in catching the murder, but that means having to work with her ex boyfriend, Micah, who dumped her for not being a wolf. Together they search for clues in finding out who is responsible and Gwen soon learns that witches are being drained for the magic in their blood--brew, as the vampires refer to it. She goes to Aiden Blake for help but ends up falling for his charm and becoming involved with the vampire who's been chasing her for the past 2 years. It's a mixture of suspense and romance.
Sorry, I'm horrible at describing my book lol

Liz- It is a very good description! I read it, I know.
Have you always been interested in witchcraft or is this where the story took you?

Stephanie- Yea, I've always been interested in witches. When I was younger I loved Hocus Pocus and Charmed. I just love the thought of magic, it's so much more interesting than the regular supernaturals in my opinion. When I began writing 4 years ago, I knew I wanted my lead character to be a witch with a rare power.

Liz- I loved Charmed too! Who was your favorite?

Stephanie- I like Phoebe's personality but I loved Prue's power, it's be cool to move things with your mind and astral project

Liz-Prue was my favorite.
In your book the vampire, Aiden, is pretty wonderful--team vampire here--what was your biggest concern writing him?

Stephanie- I was worried that his jealousy would come off as annoying to the readers. He's been waiting to claim Gwen for 2 years and now that he has her it's caused a bit of worry of losing her. In book 2, his personality will be more confident and stronger. I have my character's personalities in my head and know them almost as well as a real person, but writing them is difficult because the reader interrupts them in their own way. Aiden is a little cocky, flirtatious, and possessive, so I hoped he came across that way when I wrote him

Liz-I completely agree! I talk about my characters like they are real because they do feel real which makes it hard to hurt them, but that's our job.

Stephanie- Exactly, I'd love to write their lives where they live happily ever after, but life is dirty and people get hurt, Aiden and Gwen's lives are a little messier so it's hard to write that.

Liz- It is a good for them, it makes them stronger. Ahaha that's how I justify it.
This is the first book in a series. How many books are you planning in this world?

Stephanie- I'm writing Hunted right now, which is the second book in the series and I already have the plot for the 3rd book, Coveted. But I haven't set a limit for how many will be in the series. When I'm done writing the 3rd I'm hoping another adventure pops into my head and I'll be able to write a 4th.

Liz-Who do you think was the biggest influence on you taking up writing?

Stephanie- It may sound strange but, Stephanie Meyer. I never liked reading and never understood how someone could be obsessed with a book. I bought Twilight on a whim, because even though I didn't like reading, I wanted to, so I still bought books here and there. I'd heard a lot about Twilight and gave it a shot. It was the first book I'd ever fallen in love with. After reading her saga, I went out and searched for more books. After falling in love with the paranormal romance genre, I knew I wanted to write my own story. The first 20 attempts were horrible and I gave up for almost a year, but the story wouldn't leave me alone so I continued to try and write it.

Liz- That is awesome. I am not a Twilight fan, but if it could awaken that spark in you then that is wonderful.
What was your biggest obstacle in completing Craved?

Stephanie- Having confidence in my writing. I started around 20 different stories when I first started writing and always gave up on them because I thought my writing was horrible. My husband was the only one I'd ever let read my books and even though he said they were good, I thought he was just saying that because he's my husband lol. So when I got serious about finishing Craved, there were times where I'd leave it for a few weeks at a time because I thought I was kidding myself with wanting to become an author. I eventually gained confidence once I let my critique partners read it and that helped drive me to finish it.

Liz-Well I am glad you did, your book was such a fun read!

Stephanie- Aw, thanks Liz

Liz-Okay now it is time for the Proust questions. Good luck

Stephanie- uh oh lol

Liz- What is your favorite word?

Stephanie- sassafras, no other reason other than it's fun to say lol

Liz-What is your least favorite word?

Stephanie- hmm, the only ones that come to mind are a few dirty ones lol

Liz- You have to choose

Stephanie- eek, okay, i hate when someone says XXXXX **cheeks are red** lol

Liz- Ahahaha! Awkward segway to...
What turns you on?

Stephanie- When a man has confidence and knows what he wants, a great pair of eyes and lips don't hurt either.

Liz- What turns you off?

Stephanie- immaturity and liars

Liz- What sound or noise do you love?

Stephanie- music in general, it's the best therapy

Liz- What sound or noise do you hate?

Stephanie- dogs barking, drives me nuts

Liz- What is your favorite curse word?

Stephanie- son of a bitch, use it way too much

Liz-What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Stephanie- I always wanted to be a photographer or digital artist

Liz-What profession would you not like to do?

Stephanie- fast food, been there done that and it sucked

Liz- Last question, I hope the interview wasn't painful... If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Stephanie- I told you I existed

Liz- Ahahaha! Love it. Thank you very much.

Stephanie- Lol Thank you, that was a fun interview!


Be sure to check out Stephanie's book Craved. You won't be disappointed.

All I needed was an excuse...

to decorate for #Halloween! I was asked to write a post for an online magazine A Time 4 Mommy. If you haven't seen it or checked it out, do--lots of great coupons, book reviews, articles, etc. Anyway I will be testing out some fun DIY Halloween decorations this week and weekend for the article. I'll make sure to post a link here too. So much fun, can't wait to have all the Halloween stuff up. Yay!

Music Monday

Pandora now has workout stations. I don't know how long they have been around but I am so excited about them. I am always on the lookout for new workout music because once I am too familiar with a playlist it ceases to keep my mind off the fact that I can't breathe and my legs feel like lead. The music is a magical distraction that allows my mind to do more important things than worry about breathing like plot scenes and characters. Their lists are as follows:
Pop and Hip Hop Power Workout
Rap Strength Training
Hark Rock Strength Training
80's Cardio
Dance Cardio
Pop Fitness
Electronic Cardio
Alternative Endurance Training
Classic Rock Power Workout
Country Fitness
Yoga
Yoga Workout
I am listening to the Alternative Endurance Training while at work today. So far they haven't played anything wouldn't play on my other lists (White Stripes, the Cure, Harvey Danger, etc), I might have to switch to Pop and Hip Hop to find some new songs. But check the stations out, you never know what you might find. I will share my current list though some of the song I would never admit to liking in person. :-)

Current Running Playlist on my Ipod:

Paper Planes- MIA

Are You Gonna Be My Girl- Jet

Oh My God- Ida Maria

G6- Far East Movement

Boom Boom Pow- Black Eyed Peas

Tik Tok- Kesha

Shake- Michael Franti

Tonight I'm F**king You- Enrique Iglesias

Higher- Taio Cruz

Percussion Gun- White Rabbits

Kiss With A Fist- Florence and the Machine

Breakfast of champions

I talk a lot about green monsters here so I thought I would share my morning green monster with you this today as I sit on the patio enjoying a beautiful 50-something degree start to the day. Mine is made with spinach, chia, strawberries, blueberries and pomegranate juice. Yum!

Fall in the House of Liz

I know technically it isn't fall yet and given how crazy our weather has been this year it could just as likely be 102 on Monday, but it has pretty much been in the sixties all week for me and I am loving it. Sixties and rainy gives the air that certain bite and smell that makes me think fall. It's my favorite season and it always leaves too soon, so maybe I am as bad as those people who rush Christmas with rushing fall. I decided to do a list (you know how I love them).

The Best Things About Fall:

1. Halloween- What is more fun than dressing up, seeing others dressing up, eating candy, and watching scary movies? Nothing is the correct answer

 2. Apples. I love going to the orchards and getting apples. Fresh, homemade apple pie is the only kind of apple pie I like. 

3. Carving pumpkins. I love the smell, the gooey mess, and the creativity. 

4. Going to haunted houses- This was taken people we went to go on a haunted hayride where we got to shoot zombies with paintball guns. Yep, we were practicing our mean zombie faces just in case we had to hide among the natives.

5. College football- Mizzou may not always be good, but they are my team for better or worse, and I will be watching the game. 

6. My birthday- Enough said

7. Zombieland premieres on October 16th. What, what!

8. The sound of leaves crunching beneath my feet. 

9. Leaves changing

10. Getting to wear all of your new and old fall clothes. Hello boots.

Well I must get back writing, I have a busy day of soccer and football ahead of me.

L

Random Friday Story

Okay, so Random Friday Story isn't really one of my blog days. Normally on Friday I do my weekend reading, but I have no weekend reading this week. I have nieces that I have to help get to soccer and editing and writing coming out of my ears, so instead you get a random story about my life. If you guys like this segment, it may come around, but if I am over sharing about me, that's fine too.

Last night I was babysitting for my three nephews. They are unruly like most boys are, and they all talk to me at once, increasingly getting louder so their story can be heard over the other ones. I expected the older two to get on the Wii and ignore me and the youngest child until their parents came home, but that wasn't how it worked out. First, we all bowled with the Fisher Price bowling set. Then one decided it was more fun to run through the pins then to bowl thereby making the other two angry which in turn made everyone scream. Then we settled down and watched Backyardigans and Tom and Jerry, but as soon as the movie was on everyone was hungry. We took the big group trip up to the kitchen to scavenge for food. The youngest wanted apples and blueberries, so sweet. The older two wanted ice cream. I was scooping out their bowls of ice cream when I notice the middle child standing next to his chair.
"Caden, what are you doing?"
"Smashing an M&M."
"What?!?! Stop it! Why would you do that?"
"Because it's chocolately."
"Well stop, pick it up."
*waves hand in air dismissively* "The dogs will get it."
Needless to say he did pick up the M&M and we carried on. I sit down at the table with my ice cream and the youngest tells me now he wants ice cream too. So I get him a bowl, now all three want a drink so I get that too. I sit back down, my tasty red velvet ice cream half melted and begin eating. The youngest looks at me,
"Thank you for getting us ice cream, Aunt Liz."
And Aunt Liz is officially a softy.

Supernatural Thursday: Firefly

A few years back I heard about this show called Firefly. I didn't watch because it seemed too spacey and I don't do space. It looked a little too Stars Wars to me, and I flat out had no interest. None. I was wrong.

Flash forward to now and I continued to hear about the show and its awesomeness so I bought the season. I watched about two episodes then it fell to the side again. Too spacey, I told myself. Well, this past Sunday there was nothing on TV, and I think I have watched every BBC TV show Netflix has to offer so I pulled it back out. I restarted the series and finished it last night.

First, I totally get what everyone was talking about it is amazing. Second, it just freaking ends, nothing is resolved. Gah! Tonight I will have to watch Serenity because you just can't leave me like that. So not cool. Third, it is a space western (I love the Magnificent Seven like episode), but don't let that scare you. The plots are solid, the character arcs are engaging, and the dialogue is witty. Fourth, the cast is awesome. I may not know all of them by their real names, but I swear I recognized most everyone. The ones I do know Nathan Fillion (Castle, Two Guys a Girl and a Pizza Place), Adam Baldwin (Chuck), Alan Tudyk (Death at a Funeral- the British one. If you haven't seen it, get it immediately), Gina Torres (Suits) and of course Mark Sheppard (the best guest star from everything most recently Supernatural--Crowley--and Leverage).

If you are like me and you haven't given it a shot, do. It is streaming on Netflix, check it out!

Time is of the essence

Okay so this post isn't about writing, reading, music, or anything scary. I know, I know I'm feeling fine I swear. I have been been trying to get back into my workout routine which slips through my fingers as I became busy with publishing and editing and working 40 hour weeks and my family, etc. Time just seems to slip away from me. I was doing yoga and running nearly everyday before I let the excuses and guilt about the time I was wasting take over. But no longer. I will start doing it again. It is no longer 9000 degrees outside, the wonderful smell of fall is nearly in the air, there is no reason not to make the time to exercise, right?
So I started my morning off right with a green monster (if you don't know what a green monster is check out this site, I highly recommend them. They are an addition. http://greenmonstermovement.com/). I will get back into my strictly organic food and exercise. I will! I will aim for the December Jingle Bell 5k again, though it was so freaking cold last year. No more excuses... well maybe a few more, but I will try not to let them slow me down. 

Music Monday- Music vs. Lyrics

I'm a lyrics girl. I don't know if there is a great debate between the two camps and obviously both are important to the song, but for me it is the lyrics of a song I connect with, so it always surprises me when I suddenly realize I have no idea what the song I am singing along with is about.

This happened on my way to work this morning. I had a mellow playlist going (because I am in a mellow part of my writing), and I am singing along to the Avett Brothers song, I and Love and You. I absolutely love this song, have since the first time I heard it. It squeezes my heart and makes me feel a little sad, though I can honestly say I don't know why. Is Brooklyn a person or a New York borough? What exactly is happening in it?

Don't get me wrong there are good lines that make sense to me, You’re dreams that catch the world the cage/The highway sets the travelers stage/ All exits look the same.I think I get that, but as for what the overall song is about, I haven't a clue. Nevertheless, I love the song and will continue to sing along to it as loud as I can in my car because I can and no one can stop me.

For those interested here are the lyrics, all theories of meaning are welcome.

Load the car and write the note.
Grab your bag and grab your coat.
Tell the ones that need to know.
We are headed north.
One foot in and one foot back.
But it don’t pay to live like that.
So I cut the ties and I jumped the track.
For never to return.
Ahh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.
Are you aware the shape I’m in?
My hands they shake, my head it spins.
Ahh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.
When at first I learned to speak.
I used all my words to fight.
With him and her and you and me.
Ahh, but it's just a waste of time.
Yeah it’s such a waste of time.
That woman she’s got eyes that shine.
Like a pair of stolen polished dimes.
She asked to dance I said it’s fine.
I’ll see you in the morning time.
Ahh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.
Are you aware the shape I’m in?
My hands they shake, my head it spins.
Ahh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.
Three words that became hard to say.
I and Love and You.
What you were then I am today.
Look at the things I do.
Ahh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.
Are you aware the shape I’m in?
My hands they shake, my head it spins.
Ahh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.
Ahh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.
Are you aware the shape I’m in?
My hands they shake, my head it spins.
Ahh Brooklyn, Brooklyn take me in.
Dumbed down and numbed by time and age.
You’re dreams that catch the world the cage.
The highway sets the travelers stage.
All exits look the same.
Three words that became hard to say.
I and Love and You.
I and Love and You.
I and Love and You.

Weekend Reading: Chosen by Jolea Harrison

Blurb:

For everyone else in the world, getting stabbed in the heart means instant death. All it does for Dynan Telaerin is send him to hell.

In Chosen, Jolea M. Harrison transports us to a world on the cusp of destruction, caught in a thousand year cycle of ever repeating time, trapped between the warring Gods and the demon, Belial, with one young hero chosen to save not just the world, but the Gods themselves. 

Dynan finds himself on a corpse-strewn hillside, uncertain if he's dead or alive, charged with saving the soul of his ancestor, the most powerful telepath to ever exist. Dynan has telepathic powers of his own, only he doesn’t know how to use them. With monsters and minions trying to eat his soul, the demon’s lair isn’t a place conducive to learning anything except how to run and how to hide. 

Can Dynan find his ancestor before the fabric of time is torn beyond repair? Will courage alone be enough to face the greatest evil to exist? Will he lose his soul to save everyone else? 

The running starts, and doesn't stop to the end of this action packed adventure of a young man coming to terms with his life while he's barely a spirit, through horrors he thought existed only in dreams.

Author BIO -  

Jolea was born in Washington DC and has lived outside the Nation's Capitol most of her life. She spent many a summer roaming around the museums on the Mall, watching fireworks and concerts. Her older sister started a children's theater and they put on plays, ala Rooney and Garland, for a number of summers. They even took their shows on the road, locally, and made something of a name for the little troupe, Ateow Children's Theatre or ACT! People came out of their way to see their shows, which they put on in the side yard of the family farm, running extension cords out for the sound equipment. When the Concord jet went over, the actors had to 'freeze' in place until it was gone. Ateow’s crowning achievement was producing The Hobbit at the Dogwood Dell in Richmond, Virginia. The production drew HUGE crowds and according to the author, was a huge amount of fun to be involved with. It so happens that J. R. R. Tolkien is Jolea’s favorite author. 

After a little bit of moving around, Jolea landed back in Virginia and has been there ever since, residing in her childhood home, a 200-year-old Civil War era farmhouse. A doctor lived there during that terrible conflict and treated troops at a number of field hospitals in the area, as well as right there at the house. The bug to move around is no longer present for Jolea, so she doesn’t believe she’ll be moving again. 

Jolea began writing when she was in middle school and hasn’t stopped since. She is now working on the second book in the GOtW series, Myth. She loves writing, is passionate about it and would love write above all other things. It would be a dream come true to be able to make a living making stuff up!

For more information about the author, you can read her blog at http://jm-harrison.com, follow her on twitter @joleab and on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/JoleaMHarrison

Supernatural Thursday: Clowns

Clowns are one of those things where no one was scared of them until some magical switch was flipped and nearly everyone recognized them for the creepy bastards they are. But what was the switch? What turned them from fun-loving entertainment for children to sinister, maniacal embodiments of evil?

I never liked anything in a mask. I don't trust people who feel the need to hide their face. Combine that with a painted on smile and constant laughter and the creep factor goes through the roof. FACT: No one who is up to any sort of good is that happy, ever.

However, I think for many Poltergeist had a huge influence on the clown hatred of Gen X and Y. Who can forget that scene of the clown doll, who was just creepy throughout the movie, pulling the kid under the bed. Not okay, Steven Spielberg. Stephen King's It wasn't too bad in the fear factor either (well up until the ending it was solid at least) and Timmy Curry completely sold Pennywise the clown as the stuff nightmares are made of. And let us not forget the real life killer clown, Pogo, or more commonly known John Wayne Gacy.

Honestly, it is a wonder clowns remained as innocuous as they were for as long as they did.  

Still Catching Up

I have come back from Dragon Con with so many thoughts and ideas about projects I want to do and stories I want to create that I may never get to them all. I have new series plotted out in my head, I have some new writing methods I learned that may make the process faster and more efficient, and definitely looking into providing the more complete experience for my readers. Exciting times are ahead of us all friends. It's time to buy the ticket and take the ride.

I will have a Dragon Con post with pictures, but right now I am still catching up on everything. I submitted my short story last night, wish me luck, and I am doing the finishing run through on Secrets before I pass it off to my editor. Once that is done then I need to start preparing myself for NaNoWriMo. Lots of books and stories to get out into the world and so little time to do it.

Music Monday- Scary Music

Fall is in the air, even if it is 900 degrees outside. We had our first football game over the weekend, school is back in session, and I just saw a ton of crazy costumed people all weekend. Makes me remember October is right around the corner and my favorite holiday, Halloween (candy, horror movies, and no forced family time what is not to love). So in honor of my fall type mood you get the list of my top five scariest songs.

5. Nightmare on my Street- DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince- Okay so not a good start. Not scary at all but the part where Freddy talks could totally startled someone.

4. Paint It Black- The Rolling Stones- This song just makes me think of serial killers. I love it.

3. Theme from the Shining- This just makes me picture Jack Nicholson. Enough said.

2. Theme from Psycho- I love how startling the eek eek eek part is.

1. Theme from Halloween- BEST horror movie music of all time.


What song scares you? And don't forget to stop by day three on the blog tour of doom! http://goyay.blogspot.com/

Your editing questions

I will start this with a disclaimer- I do not edit my blog posts at all. I do not even reread them, so you have been warned. This is just me rambling.

This post is designed to give you some self-editing help. Everyone has doubts about what they thought they knew while they are editing their own work. That is just the way it is. One second we are positive and the next moment "prominent" looks like it is spelled wrong even though spellcheck says it is okay. So I have some helpful sites you can use as a quick reference. (For the "prominent" problem I would suggest a dictionary. Mine is always next to me when editing or writing.)

Dialogue Punctuation- http://www.be-a-better-writer.com/punctuate-dialogue.html

Lay vs Lie, and basically any question you can imagine http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

Comma refresher complete with quizzes http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm

Capitalization- http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/capital.asp

Repeating words- http://thesaurus.com/

What are your favorite sites for grammar rules?

Happy editing!
Liz

Short Story Collection

Still at #DragonCon, but today's blog is about short stories. I haven't written many. I have one coming out in an anthology, Dream On, this fall. And I am about to submit to another anthology that if selected will come out in October, but that is all that I have written. However, while writing my latest short I had an idea. What if I wrote a series of short stories that built on each other like a television show? They would all be stand alone stories but as you read them it would like watching the next episode on television. They wouldn't be published separately (because I sort of think that is a rip off) I would compile a collection of them into a book (like a season on dvd). Anyway that is the idea I am kicking around right now. I wonder if there would be any interest.

Weekend Reading: Craved by Stephanie Nelson

Hello from #DragonCon. Make sure you stop by my 2nd stop of the EPIC blog tour and leave a comment so you can enter to win the awesome prize pack http://www.deanabarnhart.blogspot.com/

I will not actually be doing any reading this weekend but I will share with you a new book I read this past weekend by a good friend of mine, Stephanie Nelson. Her book Craved is a story completely immersed in its own supernatural world that exists within our world, though not completely unknown to humans just segregated. In the supernatural town of Flora there lives a witch and our main character Gwen Sparks. Gwen finds herself quickly thrust into all kinds of problems from her good intentions of helping the police discover who has been draining witches. There are several delicious characters and it is a fun, entertaining read.

Blurb:
When Gwen Sparks reads the headline she knows just who to call, Detective Micah Reynolds, her wolfy ex. She'll have to use her rare power for reading the memories of the dead if she hopes to lead the police to the culprit. If it were only that easy... Gwen soon learns that witches blood is what the vampires call brew and it's the hot new drug amongst the vampires. In her search for justice Gwen is being haunted by an unsettled spirit that pulls her into the ghostly realm and a sexy but frustrating vampire who wishes to claim more than her blood, he's after her heart.

You can pick up Craved for .99 on Amazon!

Supernatural Thursday: Dragon Con

Today I am leaving for #DragonCon and it is the first stop on my blog tour, http://momma-money.blogspot.com/ (stop by and sign up to win!).

I signed up to do the DragonCon writing seminars with a friend of mine a few months back when we were trying to plan some sort of fun writing trip we could do. I have been so so excited about this. I mean there are authors I like, television shows I watch, celebrities I like, and writing. I mean all awesome things I love. What is there not to be excited about? Here is a rundown of the seminars,

 Writing Seminar Program for Michael A. Stackpole and Aaron Allston:

Seminar 1: The Rules of Writing 

Seminar 2: Tools of the Trade

Seminar 3: Writing Careers in the Post-Paper Era 

Seminar 4: Providing the Experience

Seminar 5: Characterization

Seminar 6: 21 Days to a Novel

Seminar 7: Style and Mood

Seminar 8: Writing a Successful Series

Seminar 9: Ruining Your Career Before It Gets Started

Seminar 10: Twenty-One Ways to Kill Your Novel

Seminar 11: Plotting

Seminar 12: Plot Analysis

Seminar 13: Edit to perfection 

Seminar 14: Showing Off Your Manuscript 

Like I said exciting and fun for a nerdy writer like me. So yesterday I start talking to my friend about what I am going to wear. We start looking at the pictures of people attending Dragon Con and hoo-boy! I can tell you now it doesn't matter what I wear (I'm talking casual normal everyday clothes people because I don't really do the costume thing) I am going to stick out if I am not dressed like Princess Leia. Suddenly I am a little nervous, but I am taking my camera and I promise pictures and fun tales when I return.