Celebrating St. Patty's by Sharing Some WIP

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I saw the Lucky 7 Meme on the lovely Nadja Notariani's blog, and decided to tag myself and share.

The rules:

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS/WIP
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines, sentences, or paragraphs, and post them as they're written.
4. Tag 7 authors

From our follow-up to Depression Cookies, a scene from the teenager's perspective (Krista). Krista and her friend, Alex, have set up a dinner to manipulate their parents (or in Alex's case, her guardian/grandmother). Mischief is afoot.

Was it knife and spoon on one side or knife and fork? I wanted everything perfect. Just as I laid down a knife-fork pair, the doorbell rang. Utensils went in random spots as I rushed to answer the door.

“Hello, Ms. Cantrell. So glad to see you,” I said as I hugged her. “Hey, Alex.”  She was nervous, so I gave her my best stick-to-the-plan look.

“You know you can call me Nana, sweetie,” Ruby said. She was elegant and fragile, like a china doll high up on display, with a head full of white hair. I wondered what she was like at my age.

It's 7 lines (okay, 8, but I wanted to finish the sentence). Seven paragraphs would probably be a better representation. But I want to share pieces here and there to motivate myself to finish the darn thing!

I hope you enjoyed the glimpse. If you are reading this and interested in sharing from your WIP, consider yourself tagged. Then share the link to your Lucky 7 Meme in the comments so I can check it out.

One Day Only, Just in Time for the Holidays!

My email box is full of amazing deals and bargains. Subject lines tempting me to buy one more gift at incredible prices. I don't need a new purse or sweater, but maybe I should just click the deal and find out. Right? So savvy.

But today I wanted to pass along a really great holiday treat. Today only, December 20, you can visit Nadja Notariani's An Author's Adventures blog and enter to win a signed copy of our novel, Depression Cookies. Our book is the Day 11 feature of the 12 Days of Christmas Reading List promotion. Leave a comment and you are entered. It's that simple.

If you already have a copy of our book, please feel free to enter for a gift copy. I'm sure there's a mother or daughter in your life who would enjoy the book.

About Depression Cookies:

2011 Readers Favorite Book Awards, Silver for Realistic Fiction & Finalist Chick Lit

2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Finalist Chick Lit

Depression Cookies is a coming of age story woven around the heart of family triumph. It is told from two distinct vantage points, middle-aged mother, Abby, and her teenage daughter, Krista.

Abby is buckling under the weight of a husband who is climbing the corporate ladder, three daughters each with their own unique needs, a mother who is going off the deep end and family health issues. As she is meeting everyone else's needs, her own keep surfacing. She feels she is losing parts of herself daily and doesn't know how to handle the stress and conflict. All she truly wants is a little magic in her life.

Krista is thirteen, battling acne and low self-esteem, when her father waltzes in and announces the family is moving again. Instead of letting fear and anxiety rule her life, she is determined to survive the trenches of teenage cruelty and family issues without completely losing herself in the process.

*****

Good luck. Mom and I wish you and yours the best this holiday season and into the new year!

Our Own Christmas World

Memories are fleeting and traditions are a wonderful way to remember the good times. I might not remember all the wonderful moments of growing up, but I remember the traditions. This is especially true of the holidays.

When I started my own family, my husband and I took the best parts of our traditions and created new ones. This is how we ended up with two Christmas trees every year, one real and one fake.

Another tradition we created for our family… one evening the week before Christmas, we get in the car, crank up the Christmas music, and head to our favorite place to eat. After dinner, we ride around and look at Christmas lights until it’s time to head home for bed, Christmas music blaring the whole time. We always come prepared with comfortable clothes and blankets.

We have fun singing and talking about the best lights we’ve ever seen. This reminiscing inevitably leads to talking about all our favorite holiday memories. Sometimes we’ll even stop for hot cocoa and treats before doing one last round of lights.

When I asked my daughter about her favorite part of this tradition, she said, “We are all together in our own little Christmas world.” Every year we seem to find a new favorite Christmas lights display. Knowing my kids look forward to it each year brings me such joy. I hope they’ll always remember riding around, singing, and being with their family.

What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?

*****

From December 10 through December 22, Nadja Notariani is hosting the 12 Days of Christmas Reading Gift List on her blog, An Author’s Adventures. A new title will be featured each day, so be sure to visit all twelve days.

Our novel, Depression Cookies, will be one of the featured books/giveaways! Stay tuned!