7: The Seven Deadly Sins Authors on Blog Talk Radio

Happy Hump day!

I'm so excited to join my fellow 7 authors tonight on a special Blog Talk Radio show hosted by the awesome Ethan Gregory of One Guy's Guide to Good Reads. If you haven't checked out his blog, please do. It's awesome!

Please join Jo Michaels, Casey L Bond, NL Greene, Kelly Risser, and me tonight (1/6/16) at 6:30pm EST (3:30pm PST) as we discuss 7, which will release tomorrow.

 Link to show

I promise you'll have tons of fun!

It's part of the awesome Blog Talk radio series, A Daily Cup of Jo. If you love finding new authors or great reads, or just hearing from your favorites, definitely add this show to your must-listen list.

Radio Shows, Destiny & Moving Vans: ROW80 Update

Today, I'm excited to be on my friend Sandi Tuttle's BlogTalkRadio show: An Average Woman in a Superwoman World. Check out the interview here at 11:00am EST. I'll be talking about mothers and daughters as well as the novel I co-wrote with my mom, Depression Cookies. Oh, and I'll mention my upcoming release, Chasing Memories.

Normally, doing live radio makes me a wreck. But Sandi is amazing. She makes you feel like you are sitting in her lovely home having a conversation.

It's a great way to kick off my week, especially since my Chasing Memories cover reveal tour starts this Thursday, 5/23 and runs through Thursday, 5/30. If you can help spread the world, please visit my sign up form.

*****

Writers helping each other is such an important component of A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80). Fellow participant, Juliana Haygert, recently released Destiny Gift and it's on sale for two weeks (began 5/18/13) for $0.99.

A little information...

DESTINY GIFT

Genre: NA paranormal romance
Word Count: 73,000
Release date: April 1st, 2013

Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness.

A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.

To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords |  Apple | Createspace | Goodreads | Pinterest Board

Get it while it's $0.99!

*****

My writing and personal life are colliding right now. Chasing Memories is set to release on 6/10/13, the same day the moving van pulls up to my house. Isn't that just the way it works? 

So, I will be using all my energy this summer breathing life into two new experiences... a newly published book and a new place to live. Wish me luck!

I have been a bit absent on social media lately, but I plan to catch up on my blog reading early this week. I look forward to seeing what everyone's been up to!

Embracing Chaos: ROW80 Round 4 Goals

Round 3 of ROW80 was not my finest round. Life seemed to pop up around every corner, surprising me with a delighted, "Got you again." I let it win.

Notice, I said, "I let it."

Sandi Tuttle

Today, I listened to a great Blog Radio show led by Sandi Tuttle: When Life Happens. Sandi has featured me on her show before, and she has a wonderful way of putting things into perspective in a very honest, but humorous, way. Today I felt like she was speaking directly to me.

The show was all about how life happens. She nailed life as, "chaos with occasional moments of sanity." So true, and it's time I embrace the chaos instead of simply wishing it wasn't reality.

I am guilty of all the things she mentioned. I make list after list, commitment after commitment, and then feel like a failure when I don't get everything done. I'll share more about her thoughts and my reaction on Wednesday's ROW80 update and Insecure Writers Support Group (#IWSG) post.

But for now, let me say sum up her advice... we all need to give ourselves permission to be human, to be flexible.

That's what this round is going to be about for me. Flexibility with focus, my new mantra.

My Goals for Round 4 of A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80)

Writing: I will put my butt in the chair and work on my two WIPs for a minimum of one hour a day, Monday through Friday. First thing. This comes before all my other goals, and is the one I will focus on.

I'm choosing Monday through Friday, because I want and need to focus on my family on the weekend. I looked at my almost-thirteen-year-old daughter this weekend and realized she's growing up WAY too fast. I don't want to miss it.

If, and only if, writing is done for the day...

Editing: Since this brings in money in between novels and freelance writing assignments, this is the very next priority. Once writing is done, I will follow a preplanned schedule of editing deadlines. I have written them out, but won't bore you with the details. I have a second read on a very exciting YA novel, a first read on a literary novel (15 chapters to go), and a women's literature piece.

Blogging: I'm going back to a Sunday (ROW80 update), Monday, Wednesday (ROW80), Friday schedule. I will try to use one day a week to prewrite posts. Again, ONLY after my WIP writing is done.

Reading: I truly believe this makes me a better writer, and I do have review commitments. I will plan to read in the evening and during kids' activities (thank you to my middle daughter for three-times-a-week swim practices!). Keep checking my reviews on Mom in Love with Fiction for some great reads.

Social Media: I hate that this is last on the list, but it needs to be. Only after I've done all of the above, will I visit blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. It's too alluring for me, and often leads me into other to-dos. If I'm awhile getting around to say Hi, please know that I'm writing.

To my ROW80 friends, what are you doing differently this round?

Just in case you missed the first time, check out my radio spot with Sandi here.

Featured on Today's The Mom Advocate Radio Show

Tune in to the The Mom Advocate Radio Show today to hear my interview: http://www.therealmomtv.com/mom-advocate-radio-show/. Host AnnMarie features all things mom on her Denver-based radio show.

This is my first live interview of any kind, so I have to say I'm nervous. I've listened to several of AnnMarie's previous interviews on her website. She is interesting and engaging, and I am confident she will lead me through a worthwhile piece. I will also be featured on her Real Mom TV Network on September 29th. 

A blurb from her website: "www.therealmomtv.com is the hub of all things MOM….whether you are concerned about your child’s eating habits, social interactions, physical fitness or your own concerns about staying connected to friends, keeping your body and mind healthy, or in need of a new wardrobe and fashion/styling advice, The Real Mom TV Network is the place to go; the mom destination where sharing stories and asking questions gives each and every mother a sense of community; where judgment and criticism is not okay but where real moms connect with other real moms who voice their opinions and receive invaluable information on all areas of motherhood and raising a healthy, happy family."

Tune in today and let me know what you think.