Now Available

Tales by the Tree is now available for Kindle and in print. All proceeds from this book go to a school library charity.

Links are:  Amazon Print Link: http://amzn.to/Iracg8 
Amazon eBook Link: http://amzn.to/1aecyFN

I hope you will find this book enjoyable and add it to your holiday reading.

TTFN

Sneak Peak

This comes out on November 29th. It will be in ebook and print form from Amazon.com. It is a collection of  flash fiction (stories of not more than 1,000 words +/- 50). They have to do with the holidays, fantasy and are written by over 40 authors. 

None of the authors are being paid for this book. All proceeds are going to the Mount Rose Elementary Library fund. The authors donated their time and talents. Blue Harvest Creative donated their time and artistic talent to fill the book with wonderful images and to create the cover. 

Don't miss your chance to donate and get a collection of 75 holiday stories. 

TTFN

Work-in-Progress

I am closing in on finishing Sanctuary. I am lining up my editors. Then it will go to beta readers. I am excited for it to be done. It leads directly into Something Borrowed, Something Blue. The book will tie up all the loose ends in Crossing the Line. 

I am also working on a children's book. It will be titled Of Moonbeams and Fairy Dust. It will be a collection of poems short stories, and flash fiction suitable for bedtime stories. I have two pieces done and am working on the third. No idea when it will be finished. I will work on it when the ideas come to me.

Most days I can keep outside distractions at bay. However, lately I spend my first hours in bed with ideas running around in a million different directions. Makes for a very sleepless night. I was up an hour after turning the other night writing the opening poem for Of  Moonbeams and Fairy Dust. I have since started a short story for the same book. This after writing it in my head last night. Maybe I should nap in the afternoon so my ideas will come them.

For my friends still struggling through NaNo...best of luck you have nine days left to this insanity. I know several who will be finished. To the others don't give up.

TTFN

It's NaNo Time

National Novel Wrting Month or NaNoWrimo or NaNo started on Nov. 1st. It is a month of non-stop writing with the goal of writin a 50,000 word novel. I have completed it twice. The first novel I wrote, Secrets was written in twenty-one days. The second time I did NaNo I did not finish the novel I was working on. I still have not finished. The third time I did NaNo I wrote Target of Vengeance. Last year I attempted to write a novel. I uploaded 13,000  words and did not realize I hit cut and not copy. I lost the entire thing. Luckily, I had a couple chapters saved elsewhere, but had to start over.

I am now over 40,000 words into the novel I lost a year ago. My goal for November is to get it this novel finished so I can get it to the editors. I am ready for it to be done, so I can get to work on production.

I could start work on book four. I have the first chapter done. But I need to finish book three before I can begin book four. I would confuse myself working on two books at once.

I have an idea for a childrens' collection, but I cannot seem to nail down what I want to write. I have too many ideas floating at the moment. I could tackle one or two of those but, it would take time away from my work-in-progress. I think I'll wait a month or so and let those ideas gel for a bit.

To my writer  friends attempting the NaNo challenge, best of luck to you. I hope each and every one of you is successful. It is a great way to start a novel as well as an awesome way to finish one.

TTFN

Depression, the Unexplainable

Among other things I suffer from SADs-Seasonal Affective Disorder. As autumn comes the days become less sunny and I find I cry frequently for no particular reason. Most of the time I cannot even drag myself out of bed in the mornings. Then I find I stay up too late at night because I am not tired.

It becomes a viscious cycle. I get sadder and the days get shorter. The past three years I have been able to combat this. The first winter after I retired, I spent in south Texas. It was a great experience, but not really the place for me. The past two winters I have spent in South Carolina. There I made some wonderful friends and have thoroughly enjoyed myself. Even though last winter was colder and wetter than the previous one, I still had the beach to walk on. 

This year the sadness has set in earlier than usual. I have found myself weepy for the past three days. Something which makes me totally crazy and I hate when it happens. I have tried keeping myself busy, but find I am lacking in energy. Part of the problem is my allergies are on overtime, wearing down my system. I have spent time with the cheeriest person I know. She has no idea how much she helps keep me above water some days.  This week I made her step out of her comfort zone and have photos taken. I'm glad she did. 

Seriously who could be sad around this? Bonus was a former student was the photographer. It was a beautiful day.

I have a shopping therapy day coming up this week with two of my undergrad friends. I can hardly wait. It's been a while since the three of us got together. So, it gives me something to look forward to.

I am really okay. Just sad and not looking forward to winter. I will not be traveling this year. Not being a fan of winter will keep me inside. Not a problem as I have a book to finish and one to get out for another author. I have much to do to keep myself occuppied. 

Depression is not something you can see. Those who are depressed do everything they can to hide it. Should this minor bout with the dark side hang on too long I will see my doctor for meds. I prefer not to take meds. But depression screws with my diabetes. And that is not something I want to deal with. It is too hard to manage the diabetes on a day-to-day basis to add in depression and watch it really screw up. 

So, if you don't see me on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, and you don't hear from me, don't panic. I have just crawled under the covers to shut out the world. I will be fine. I have been worse off than this and will survive this. For now, I'm just spending time with me. 

TTFN

What is This Christmas?

What is This Christmas?

By Rebecka Vigus

Yes, Ebook

                Winter in the fairy glen was not magical. The fragile fairies were forced to remain inside. Twit watched the snowflakes gently falling. She saw the brightly colored lights of the farmhouse across the meadow. She longed to see what the family was doing. Her wings twitched with the urge to fly. Maybe she would slip out tonight. What could it hurt? What a great adventure. Just then her mother called, “Lights out.”

                Twit curled into her bed. Moonlight streamed through the window as she lay down to sleep. She waited until all was quiet before easing out the window into the night.

                The bitter cold wind made it hard for her to fly. Moonlight through the clouds helped her keep her bearings. Those beautiful snowflakes were cold and wet as they hit her gossamer wings. She hoped she would make it to the farmhouse.

                It seemed to take forever and just as she was giving up Twit splattered against a window pane. She rubbed a spot with her cold hand to see inside. A little girl was lying on her bed reading. The room was all pink and cozy.  Twit tapped on the window hoping the girl would let her in.  She was about to give up a when little boy ran into the room.

                He shouted muffled words Twit could not make out. Then he noticed her. “Look, Bridget,” he yelled. “There’s a weird bug on your window.”

                Both children came to the window. Twit was excited, hoping they would let her in so she could get warm.

                “It’s a fairy,” Bridget said.

                “There’s no such thing,” the boy stated. But he continued to stare at the strange bug. It looked like it was waving to them.

                “Stand back,” Bridget ordered. “I’m going to open the window and let it in.” She lifted the window enough to reach out and grab the little fairy. “Oh, she’s cold.”

                Twit was startled by having her own wish come true and could only sit it Bridget’s hand and shiver.

                “Find me a doll blanket will you, Bryce?”  Bridget asked.

                He muttered but started searching through her doll stuff.  “Will this work?” he asked holding up a doll wash cloth.

                “Just bring it,” Bridget ordered. “She’s freezing.” Bridget wrapped the tiny fairy to help her get warm. “Do you understand what I say?” she asked.

                Twit nodded yes.

                “I’m Bridget and this is Bryce,” she told the fairy. “Did you come for Christmas?”

                Twit looked confused she answered, “I’m Twit. What is this Christmas?”

                “You don’t know what Christmas is,” Bryce shrieked.

                “Hush, or Mom will hear us,” admonished Bridget. “Christmas is a holiday we celebrate every year. We decorate the house, hang our stockings, and wait for Santa to arrive.”

                “What’s a Santa?” Twit asked.

                “This is messed up,” Bryce said. “Everybody knows who Santa is. He lives at the North Pole. Every year he brings toys to girls and boys around the world. He rides in a flying sleigh pulled by reindeer.”

                It was Twit’s turn to be astonished. She had seen Santa and his sleigh. She never knew what he did. She sneezed.

                “Oh, we can’t let you get sick,” Bridget said.  “I’ll fix you a bed and tuck you in. Tomorrow we can talk more.”

                Twit perched on a pillow wrapped in the wash cloth as Bridget went to work making her a bed. Once made Bridget shooed Bryce from the room and tucked Twit into bed. She crawled into bed and shut off the light. “Night, Twit.”

                “Night.”

                Sometime in the night Twit spiked a fever and got chills. She knew this was not good and she would never make it home by morning. Her mother would worry. She tossed and turned in the little bed.

                Bridget found Twit soaking wet and shivering in the morning. “Oh, you poor thing. Let me find something to make you better.” She left the room and Twit curled into the bed trying to get warm.

                In a few minutes, Bridget returned. She had something in a tiny doll cup. “Drink this, it will help.”

                Twit drank while Bridget searched for dry bedding. She tucked the little fairy in. “I hope you get well soon. I made a Christmas wish to keep you.”

                Twit cried, “I made a wish to go home.”

                Sleep now and we can work it out when you feel better. Again Bridget tucked Twit in and left the room. When Twit woke up she felt better. She tried out her wings and flew to the window. Snow covered everything she could hardly see her home in the woods. She cried, wishing once again she was safe at home.

                When Bridget came back she had Bryce in tow. “We talked it over and decided we are going to help you get home.”

                Twit smiled. “Thank you.”

                “You need to drink some more of this because we have to take you outside,” Bridget told her.

                Twit took the cup and drank. She was surprised it did not make her sleepy. She handed the cup to Bridget.

                “Bryce and I are going to get ready to go out,” she said. “We’ll be back to get you in a few minutes.”

                The two left the little fairy. She worried they might change their minds keeping her here forever. Tears stung her eye lids. They had been so kind. It took ages, but the two returned dressed in their snowsuits.

                “Hop into my pocket,” Bridget said opening the pocket on her jacket. “Can you show us the way?”

                “Oh, yes,” Twit said climbing in.

                In less than ten minutes they were across the field. At the outskirts of the woods, Twit said, “I can get there from here. Thank you.” She fluttered her wings and flew home.

                She sent her wish to Santa and on Christmas morning Bridget found a fairy sized doll in her stocking and Bryce found the sling shot he wanted.

               

                               

Blog Crawl???

Tried something new tonight. A blog crawl on Twitter. Okay, let's start with I am not Twitter savvy. I don't use it on my phone, I use it on my computer, usually for posting my blogs. I only check  it when I get a notification someone is following me or commented on a tweet. So, poured my frozen strawberry daquiri and joined in.

It was a  bit disjointed. Someone suggested I use Tweet Deck...not a clue what it is. Doubt it's on my computer.  I ended up hopping from my home page to the blog crawl.

We were given a silly topic to write about. Synchronicity featuring skinny dipping and  a proud moment (non-family related). Ugh, never been skinny dipping so cannot begin to write about it and most of my proud moments are family related. Think I'll pass on the topic altogether.

Was not getting  all the tweets of members of the group which made it even more difficult. Not sure why it happened but it did. As far as I knew there were only two other people particitpating. A gentleman from Canada and another author. Imagine my surprise to find out there were many others and the conversation was quite lively.

While this was a learning experience, I would try it again. It was interesting to say the least.
TTFN

Already Planning & a Challenge

Several years ago my daughter did a daily photo blog. She called it her 365 day project. Each day she took a photo or found an old one of something special to her. Since I am going to be snowbound this winter, I have decided I'm going to try for a photo a day and blog about it.

Some days might just be photos and some days might be photos and an explanation. Some will be good photos and some will not. Some will be though provoking, some will make you laugh, some will do absolutely nothing for you...but the will do something for me.

However I am making a challenge to all my friends and followers. Can you take a photo a day? Will it be something that reflects your life, where you live, or just inspires you? Will any of you take up the challenge? If you do, please let me know your blog link so I can follow along.

Happy picture taking.
TTFN

Huge Leap of Faith

I took a leap of faith and offered another writer a contract with Lilac Publishing. Her book won't be out until next year. We have a lot of editing to do. I want her to be a smashing success. She has planned at least one other book in this series.

Now I have to wait for her to read through the contract and decide if it is something she wants to work with. She is an unknown to me, but I believe she has potential.

I have also hired someone to read through it, ask questions, make comments, and in general pick it apart. So, really two things have happened today. I have out sourced and am actually contracting for work. AND, I've offered a contract to an author.  Big steps for a small company.

I believe everyone has to start somewhere. I have procrastinated making both of these decisions. I've been holding out for another author whose book is close to being finished. I cannot hold out forever if I truly wish to be a publisher.

The next thing will be to contract out and get a website for Lilac Publishing. One I can connect to my authors with and give people another place to purchase author books. That will mean business cards for Lilac Publishing as well as letterhead.

Did someone forget to tell me I'd retired? What am I thinking????

TTFN

Lost My Motivation

I have just the main bathroom to paint and put down a floor.

These are shots of the floor.

I am not a pink person and this floor has made me crazy long enough. Even scrubbed it looks dirty. Ugh.

Then we have the walls.

Yes, they are different colors. 

As you can see hardware is off the walls, I have washed them. I just need to start painting. Today, I cannot make myself do it. It is the last room in the house and it needs to be done. Then I will allow myself to go back to packing up stuff I am not using. (Which also means finding more stuff for a moving sale). 

Oh, wait, someone has to come look at the house before they can buy it. Then they have to like the house. The only thing progressing on my house is my painter comes around 3 o'clock most afternoons and works until 8 or 9 pm. So the outside of the house is progressing. 

Just feeling down in the dumps I guess.

TTFN

Here We are in August

How did we get here? I am still frustrated at not having my house sold. I know it's only been a month.

We have made great strides on painting the outside of my house. I have hired someone to finish it. He starts this week. I have torn apart the main bathroom and am busy getting it ready to paint. 

I have to take a break on house stuff tomorrow to mow the lawn. I will spend about two to four hours on that. But it will look better when it's done.

I went to South Carolina to look at a couple of houses. I really thought I'd be putting in an offer on one of them. I was wrong. I did however come back with a game plan for the next trip down. I'm going to spend a week and look at houses and condos every day. I'm making a list of what I must have and them I'm going to look at the pros and cons of each. I am really not a condo person, having grown up in rural areas, I'm not fond of city life.

In the meantime, I work on the house and pack up things I'm not using. No one said this was going to be easy.

TTFN