Photo Friday - Cuteness overload edition

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This might be the cutest thing I've seen all week.  Maybe all month!

Sometimes us #authors need a super cat at our feet for inspiration. pic.twitter.com/SRiLNFaJTT
— Rebecca Scarberry (@Scarberryfields) April 10, 2014

Photo Friday - Just because

Because sometimes, what you need is a diaper-wearing pet duck standing on a textbook...

Photo Friday - New driveway edition...

The driveway for my new house was poured this week.  I had to write in it--I just couldn't resist!

Have you made your mark in wet cement before?  It's oddly satisfying...

Photo Friday - Furry cuteness edition

One of my students has a sugar glider as a pet, and he brought her to school today to make new friends.  She's pretty adorable...

She has a little pouch she rides around in, hammock-style.

Who can resist almond butter?

Do you have any pets?

Celebrate the Small Things and Photo Friday - Snow Day!

Normally, winter in Texas isn't much to write home about.  And I like it that way.  I grew up here, and am a Texas girl through and through.  This white stuff makes me uneasy.

You may recall we had a big ice storm here about a month or so ago (I know my Northern readers are laughing at me and my classification of 'big' ice storm, but when you live in a place that doesn't regularly get winter weather, a few inches of ice is a Big Deal).  I thought we were done with frozen stuff, but I guess not.  Today, we got snow:

My driveway, before I had to
head in to work.

It wasn't a ton of snow--just enough to cover everything in a soft blanket of white.  It's really pretty to see the contrast with some of our red-leafed plants:

My evening classes have been canceled, and I don't have classes on Friday, so I'm going to stay home, drink hot tea, and write!

How was your week?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week.  This is a blog hop hosted by VikLit, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

Photo Friday and Celebrate the Small Things - Only in Texas edition...

I ran into this beauty in the Fort Worth Stockyards.  I think she's wearing a lovely shade of lipstick, don't you?

I'm a bit tired this week, so I'm celebrating the fact that I made it through the week!  I have an all-day meeting for my local RWA chapter on Saturday, but Sunday should be nice and relaxing.  What are you up to this weekend?

If you've been reading my blog, you know that Fridays are reserved for a post where I celebrate the little things that have happened during the week.  This is a blog hop hosted by VikLit, and it's one of my favorite blogging things to do.  I encourage you to check out her blog and the full list of participants, because who doesn't love reading about good things?

Photo Friday - Wishing for spring edition...

It's cold and dreary here, but not nearly as bad as other places in the U.S. For those of you stuck in the freezing cold, stay warm!  It may not feel like it now, but spring is just around the corner!

Photo Friday - Silly Signs edition

I feel like this should be a Saturday Night Live sketch...

I'll keep my panties where they are, thank you very much!

Something to keep in mind...

Photo Friday - I get by with a little help from my friends...

With apologies to Ringo, I'm posting this a bit early because I have a HUGE giveaway post scheduled for tomorrow.  I hope you'll stop by and check it out!

Photo Friday - Sunset edition

My mom took this picture the other day.  It doesn't fully capture the beauty of the sunset, but it gives you a good idea...

Photo Friday - Winter Wonderland edition

The view of my backyard:

Stay warm everyone!

Photo Friday - Free hat edition!

My uncle and I went to the hockey game last weekend, and all we got were some free hats! :)

Photo Friday - I refuse to be sick edition

My throat hurts.

I'm ignoring it.

Denial is a powerful thing.

Photo Friday - Paperback Writer edition

Tuesday was the Big Day, so of course Mom and I had to stop by our local Barnes & Noble to buy my book off the store shelf.  It wasn't actually out yet, but the clerk kindly retrieved two copies from the back. :o)

Don't forget to send me your pictures of the book--you'll be entered to win my giveaway!

Celebrate the Small Things and Photo Friday - It's here!

  

It's here, it's here!  DEADLY CONTACT was released in audio and e-book format today!  I'm so excited!!!

What's that, you want a paperback copy?  Don't fret--the paperback edition will be released on Tuesday, November 5.  That's only 4 days away (or 96 hours, or 5,760 minutes, in case you're counting...)

Be sure to come back on Monday for details on a contest I'm holding to celebrate the release of my first book!

In the meantime, go forth and read! :)

Want more celebrations?  Stop by VikLit's blog to sign up for this great hop!

Photo Friday - Traveling edition

If you follow me on Facebook, you already know that earlier this week, I flew to Canada for the Surrey International Writers Conference.  This is one of my favorite conferences, and it's always one of the highlights of my year!

Not only am I having a great time at the conference, but I really enjoyed the trip up here, as I was able to spend the entire flight reading.  I don't have as much free time as I'd like these days, which means I don't get to devote several hours at a time to reading.  A plane ride, however, seems tailor-made for a reading marathon, and is often one of my favorite parts of traveling as it gives me a chance to make a dent (however small) in Mount TBR.

One of the many foothills of Mount TBR...

What do you enjoy most about traveling?

Photo Friday - Happy Fall!

Photo Friday - Homework edition

Your assignment for the weekend...

Photo Friday - Pumpkin edition

My Mom is a member of a local charitable organization.  Their main fundraiser involves painting pumpkins, which are sold in early October. The proceeds from the sale are used to purchase Christmas gifts for pediatric cancer patients and their siblings.  It's a fun event, and getting the pumpkins ready to be sold takes a lot of work.  That's what the group is focused on now--painting and embellishing the pumpkins.  I've been helping out as my day job schedule allows, and as we were working the other day, it struck me how similar this process is to writing a story.

First, you're faced with a blank page.  This can be intimidating, but I prefer to think of it as inspiring.  All that blank canvas, just waiting for your story!  You can write anything you want--there are endless possibilities, any number of directions you could go. Sometimes it's hard to pick just one idea, but eventually you settle on a topic and begin to write.

In the early days, you're sketching out the story.  Who are the characters? What motivates them, what makes them tick?  What happens to them? Where are they?  Lots of details, and as you get to know the story, you can start filling them in to make a more complete picture.

Eventually, you have a first draft.  The bones of your story are there, and you have created a recognizable thing.  It's not yet ready for public consumption, but you're well on your way.  A little more detail here, some spit and polish there, and you'll have an actual book.

So you keep going.  You keep working at it, keep editing out the bad and inserting the good.  You send it out to beta readers, maybe you have an editor, and you use their feedback to make the story even better.  Finally, after all that effort, you have a finished book!  It's beautiful, and you can't wait to share it with the world.

You celebrate the accomplishment for a bit, then start the process all over again!

Pretty fun, huh? :o)

Photo Friday - Sushi edition

For some reason, I've been craving sushi lately.  The best sushi I've ever had was on a trip to Brazil--I had to snap a picture before we started chowing down, it was just so pretty...

I'd love to sit down to this again.

What about you?  Do you enjoy sushi?