Crash Day Dreamin'

For those of you who are not exposed to the shift work life (either working it or supporting it in some way), a "crash day" is that one day where you body flips the world the finger and laughs at your plans while snoring soundly... ALL DAY.

I witnessed this often as the hubby would come off one shift and try to adjust his sleep schedule for the next one. It is brutal and really sucks doing that kind of flip flop. But, I had rarely experienced it for myself. Unless I'm sick, I usually just plow through the day and collapse at the designated time. However, with the amount of stress and everything else going on, my body has officially decided to shut down for the day.

No, really. I'm not sick, and nothing is wrong with me, but I woke up to drive the kiddo to school, took a nap, woke up to pick him up, ate lunch, and now I am blogging before I fall asleep again. It's a crash day.

The great thing about days like this though is that it does give you the chance to dream a LOT. My over active imagination is going nutty! And, I will spare you the details, because I think Freud would have a field day with them.

Since my dreams are not necessarily appropriate to talk about, and some of them I am taking notes on for future novels, I figured I would talk a little bit about a different person's dream.

I made a friend on Facebook who lives in Australia. The first conversation we had was awesome. It afforded me the opportunity to let my long dormant philosophical theories fly free. We debated, agreed, and chit chatted about religion and philosophy for a long time. Then he told me about a project he has going. He has been invited to speak at a poetry convention in... Ireland. Take a quick moment to look at a map. Yeah, Australia and Ireland are about as far away from each other on this globe as two countries can get. Anyway, my first thought was "that is awesome, congratulations" followed quickly by "how exactly would a person get there? And, how much would it take to survive the week then fly back?" And, that is when I learned about "crowd-funding". It is a practice of asking people to pledge a certain amount toward your goal in exchange for the finished product or some other prize. His incentives vary, but they are all in connection with his poetry which is why he is going across the world in the first place. Because I love poetry and conversing with this friend, I pledged.

So, here is the link to his Pozible page. And, here is the link to his Facebook page. And, you're probably wondering at this point what the man's name is. Well, follow the links and introduce yourself to James WF Roberts. He's just like the rest of us writers. You know, crazy and creative with a dash of caffeine addiction. LOL

Do you ever have crash days? Do you ever wish you could?

Getting Personal

Normally I try to keep everything a bit superficial in that I don't share many intimate details of my life and my family. However, this propensity for anonymity and my reticence for familiarity is spawning some unforeseen consequences. Let me explain...

In the beginning... no, not THAT beginning, the beginning of my writing career... I was living a life completely defined by my family. Not because they demanded it to be that way, but because I had forgotten who I was and what I wanted out of life. I was depressed and adrift while feeling anchored and loved. It was odd to say the least. But then I started writing, and bit by bit my old self returned, rising out of the shadows to shine fully in the light. And, I still love it.

However, this presented a bit of a problem. I was, and still am, determined to make a career out of my imagination. Part of that will include recognition and a fan base comprised of a varying mix of personalities. The problem came with the fact that my husband and I lived in a VERY small community. And, his profession in law enforcement ensured that he would be recognized by some people you don't really want to know you. So, for the sake of familial safety, I decided to adopt a pen name and only post non-descript things about my life.

This has recently backfired. While I still hold the majority of humanity in a positive light, there have been recent virtual run-ins with people who think that I am unmarried and that it entitles them to lose all sense of propriety. Now, I am adept at dealing with these situations, and make myself very clear, but for some reason the fact that I do not scream across every page that I am a married woman, has opened the door for some really unnerving situations.

It has left me in the position of reevaluating why I refrain from claiming familial ties. To be perfectly honest, with our move and my husband's change of career, I do not have a valid reason anymore. My adherence to this self-imposed principle has shifted to one of habit and pride without me really realizing it. So, I'm done.

Here is a picture of my husband and I in Disneyland. Unfortunately, this is after he cut his very long, very sexy, jet black hair. So, instead of looking like a paranormal romance cover model, he looks like Superman. And, I am perfectly fine with being a superhero's wife. LOL

By the way, he is over a foot taller than me, so dancing and sparring get a little awkward at times. LOL

The Year Thus Far...

So, this year has already been a bit of a doozy. We sign our closing papers over in Seattle in one week! AND, we sign our closing papers over here in Idaho in about 3 weeks. Needless to say, I'll be moving soon.

Also checked of the list for this year's goals are:

• The release of my first book (done and up for sale, signed copies are available through "The Dark" tab right up ^ there ^)
• Getting myself organized as an author (that was easier said than done)
• Revamping my blogsite (what do you think?)
• Be happier (working on it and things are looking up)
• And writing another novel (ALMOST done and still on track to release late June)

Still left on the docket:

• Officially move (this isn't done until the last box is unpacked)
• Release two more books (easy peasy)
• Reduce stress (I seem to have increased this instead of decreasing it)
• Eat healthier (being a comfort eater doesn't help matters much)
• Become a bestselling author (gonna need some serious marketing to make this happen)

Part of my organization was to get my finances in order. I know that sounds a bit... I don't know... early twenties-ish? But, I am nearing my 30th birthday and have little budgeting skills. SO, I have tools, and apps, and tricks (oh my!) to help me get all those little green duckies in row and marching orderly. I can even walk behind them with my djembe beating out the proper rhythm if I need to, but they WILL go where I tell them to. LOL

*sigh* This year is progressing well and I am eager to see what else I can manifest through the next 7 months. It should be exciting!

Have you achieved any of your resolutions yet? What has happened thus far that has you jumping up and down and wanting to spin around until you fall over?

Brilliance Of Barflies: Chapter Three

If you missed the previous two chapters, you can start reading the story HERE. And, Chapter Two is HERE.

Chapter Three: Mermaid Dating Tips

“My date with a mermaid went well last night. A little cold and wet, but really, much better than a normal woman.” Richard’s eyes looked a little extra sunken in that day, his skin a little more sallow. And, apparently, his mind had confused matters again.

Mark's double chins turned in shocked disgust toward the lawyer. “Isn’t that illegal?”

“Yeah, that sounds a bit like bestiality to me,” Phillip shrugged from his customary bar stool.

Mark made a chuckle that was more of a walrus' disgruntled snort. "You'd still think about it though. wouldn't you, ya sick bastard?"

Phillip flashed him a mischievous smile and wiggled is eyebrows. “Hey Doc! Would it be possible? You know, to hump a half-fish lady?”

James turned with slight interest and the familiar pondering light to his eye. “Depends on which half is the fish half. Then again, if she were half dolphin or other aquatic mammal, there wouldn’t be a problem.” His eyebrows lowered into a furrow. He was obviously deep in thought about the potentiality of the subject.

Ted turned toward the conversation with a slightly masked morbid curiosity. “Is that how they came about in the first place?”

Phillip started chortling at an inside joke. “Yeah, some sick bastard like Richard got high and horny and sexually assaulted a dolphin.”

Ted, finally figuring out what everyone was really talking about, pulled a face of abject horror. “Dude, that is so wrong in so many ways.”

James drew a deep breath and pivoted so he was fully in the conversation. “Yeah, but it begs the question of whether or not it is possible. From a medical standpoint, there’s nothing to say it wouldn’t be feasible. Although, there may be a problem with actual insem-"

Mark held up a hasty hand nearly spilling his gin and tonic. “Thank you doctor for that rather disturbing explanation. It doesn’t matter whether or not it is possible, it is gross and twisted all the same.”

Richard shook his head adamantly. “No, not gross. A little slimy, sure, but not gross.”

“How is a slimy, cold, and wet half-fish woman not gross?” Mark had the look of someone who was about to crawl out of his skin. It made me wonder what he would look like if it did actually happen. Would he be like an alien, supermodel skinny? Or would he look more like Fabio stepping out of a suit-o-sumo outfit? Hmm...

Phillip waved a dismissive hand in the air not bothering to gaze in his direction. “All women smell like fish mid-coitus anyway.”

He rounded on the stock broker, a terrifying prospect considering his mass. “That is completely beside the point.”

“You mean under the point.”

Time to end this before they start punching eachother for no good reason. “You guys are disgusting today.”

 

Hearty laughs and nods accompanied a raucous request for more drinks, but at least the inebriated perverts were done with the topic for the moment.

It's Been Over A Month?!

It is hard to believe my debut novel has been out for over a month already. The time flew by in some respects, but dragged on in others. It still feels a bit surreal and I am still trying to figure out the whole marketing thing (you know, talking to people about myself and my book, the terrifying part of being an author).

In all honesty, I'm a bit disappointed with the outcome. I mean, I had my release party and it was fun, and at the beginning there was a lot of buzz and fanfare, but now it's different. I don't know how to explain it, but it just feels very anticlimactic. I have a few rabid fans (THANK YOU) and a couple of milder supporters (you guys rock) and even a few happy readers who contact me (YAY!), but I don't have the swamped email inbox, or the crazy busy street team, or anything like that. Of course, part of that is entirely my fault, because asking people to do something for me is one step above actually talking to people about my book. Yikes! *Runs and hides in corner*

Whatever the current state of the process and my emotions, I am happy to have a book out in the wild blue yonder. Something that I created and worked at from start to finish. Something I can hold up and say, "see what I did". And, for me, that is a gigantic triumph.

So, because marketing is important, I am going to ask you lovely readers to do me a HUGE favor. Please share this post with your followers, friends, and social circle? Every share or link helps the indie author buy food and put gas in their cars. Without you, we would probably just curl up and cry in a gelatinous ball of introverted terror... Well, maybe not, but we would be sad. As always, I appreciate every one of you and hope your day is as awesome as you are! THANK YOU for being you!

 

Road Of Thorns

Kindle ~ $3.99

Paperback ~ $5.99