Winter Schminter
Earlier this month, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, which is always a crowd pleaser.
Still, everyone likes to discount the predictions of the real-life R.O.U.S. (The Princess Bride, anybody?) since he’s only right 40% of the time.
But honestly, I think he is this year!
We’re definitely in the start of a shoulder season because the weather is as indecisive as I am about publishing dates.
It was 50 degrees two days ago and it’s going to 73 next week. The poor flowers aren’t sure what to do, lol!
As you can see, I’ve already got some daffodils popping up in my front flower bed and I’m hoping the crocus I planted last month follow soon.
I’ve been doing a good deal of garden prep since I’m adding a lot this year. I’m building a pathway and two more vegetable beds PLUS two cattle panels for climbing plants.
I sowed some perennial wildflower seeds, too.
It’s a well-known fact that I want to live in a cozy little cottage with an English garden, and we’re getting there! Plus, I’ve already named our little abode: Honeysuckle Cottage!
I’ve planted a few vegetables already because I’m a bit impatient and have several David Austin roses sitting in my online cart.
I think I’m sold on Crown Princess Margareta and Windermere. I do love Olivia Rose Austin and Lady of Shallot, as well.
I don’t know how I’m not going to spend $400 on roses except that I don’t have $400, so…that helps!
All that to say I’m actually excited for warmer weather.
On an unrelated note, I am officially unrecognizable.
How are you guys doing on resolutions?
You remember those from last month?
My husband and I have decided to stop acting like college students about money and actually attempt saving some this year.
One of the authors I met at the local author expo in 2023, Jessi Fearon, is an accountant (and a really smart follow on Instagram!), and she has a “Broke to 5K Challenge”.
I’m trying it.
Do I think I’ll actually save $5,000 this year? Yeah, no.
Doing this is mostly about starting wise money habits over saving a lot initially, so it’s not about the dollar amount anyway.
We attempted a No Spend January and were able to get through 22 days without unnecessary spending.
We weren’t 100% successful, but it was a rough month and we were able to temper our spending, which was the whole point.
What I’m Reading
Honestly, I struggled reading last year and I’m feeling the same way this year.
I think sometimes it just ebbs and flows for me. I’ve read 50 books in a year and one book in a year, so I never get too down on myself.
‘Tis what ‘tis.
My Goodreads Reading Goal for 2024 is only 8 books, so I think I can manage that. BTW, want to be friends on Goodreads??
For NONFICTION, I’m reading this one.
Kim Patton, one of the talented authors in the Southern Scribe Society, published a poignant book in November called Nothing Wasted and it is soulful, y’all.
For FICTION, I started Of Ink and Sea by Clarissa Kae, and I bet you can’t imagine why I’d be drawn to that one. So far, it’s very intriguing. Plus, great cover!
I just finished reading an ARC for Sophie Leigh Fox, one of the authors in the Southern Scribe Society. I was so impressed!
She writes clean regency romance, and The Duke’s Last Word was such a cute, well-written novella in true Jane Austen form. I’m glad that it’s going to be a series so we get more of these characters.
I’m also reading the first Dork Diaries with my daughter because she’s obsessed. My little bibliophile is so cute!
She recently discovered an old box of mine filled with X-MEN comics, comic books I created as a result (yes, you read that right), and my old scrapbooks from college.
So now she’s decided to create her own X-MEN like me in my old sketch book. My teenage self has never felt more cool than to have inspired someone to create.
What I’m Writing
I mean, obviously Reckless Truth.
I’m in this weird writing/editing purgatory because I am terrible at organization. However, this is just the first run through editing and already I’m happier with the progress than I thought I would be.
So I guess I’m in a writing shoulder season, too?
I cannot wait to get this thing finished and into the hands of beta readers!
I finally hit 50k a few weeks ago, which means it would have only taken me a year to write a winning NaNoWriMo draft, LOL!
It’s slow but steady, and as long as I keep chipping away at it, I’m happy with the process.
I am who I am.
I met with my cover designer two weeks ago to brainstorm ideas. All I can say is it’s going to be awesome. Joe Burns is incredibly talented and has done a phenomenal job creating all of my covers.
Stay tuned!
I’m also heading to the first ever Southern Scribe Society writing retreat in March, and I am psyched!
This is the first time I have ever gone to a writing retreat and it’s with a great group of women. I’m hoping to finally finish the official first draft of Reckless Truth while there. And to sleep past 6:45 in the morning…
Speaking of living alarm clocks, my oldest daughter has been hounding me lately to write a story that she can read (because Reckless Truth ain’t it), and that means I need to finish Ashwood.
I’ve been thinking about it a bit over the last few weeks, and I actually think I can slip it in my writing sessions at some point soon.
It’s an ode to childhood (mine specifically) and was inspired by people I really love, so I need to get it right.
It shouldn’t be too hard to finish, but I’ve learned to never assume anything about anything I write.
Those of you who have followed me for a while know that LLDR started as a fun 4-part vampire series on my blog and now it’s four books!
If you’re new around here, RECKLESS SONS is the next series I’m writing. It’s a LONG LIVE DEAD RECKLESS prequel series, and it revolves around several main characters from the original - Sage, Levi, and Spencer.
I published the first prequel, Reckless Pursuit, in August of 2020.
The “plan” is to publish Reckless Truth December 2024 (SQUEEEEE) and Reckless Youth in December 2025.
But who knows? I’ve met me and I’m terrible at planning out my publishing calendar.
Also, don’t tell anyone, but I’m secretly plotting a novelette titled Fallen Fathers because some juicy untold story is just festering over here.
For now, I’m going to focus on finishing what’s already on my plate.
First things first!
Stay safe + well read out there,