The Secret Book Review

Title:  The Secret
Series:  Irin Chronicles
Author:  Elizabeth Hunter
My Rating:  5 Breathtaking ♥'s

First Thoughts:  A Lyrical, Hauntingly Beautiful love story that is so much more...

Elizabeth,  Thank you for an ARC of The Secret.  It is my pleasure to review this book.  This series resides on my Favorites Shelf.  It is quite simply magical.

I had the pleasure of reviewing both of the previous books in the Irin Chronicles series.  You can read my reviews here:

The Scribe

The Singer



The Secret Synopsis:

Only when the darkness falls can you see the light of the stars.
For thousands of years, the scribes and singers of the Irin race have existed to protect humanity and guard the gifts of the Forgiven. They have lived in the shadows. They have kept their secrets.
But the Irin aren’t the only race with secrets.

Ava and Malachi have found each other, but wounds as deep as theirs don’t heal overnight. While the Irin world struggles to correct the power imbalance left by the Rending of the Irina, Malachi and Ava struggle to connect their past with their present.

The Fallen may scheme, but Ava has found her power and refuses to be an angel’s pawn. And while Malachi may have forgotten his history, the scribe’s relentless search for answers leads both him and his mate to the heart of the Irin power structure in Vienna, where knowledge is guarded more closely than gold and those with power will do anything to keep it.

Malachi and Ava have survived the darkness, but will they ever discover its secrets? A powerful cabal of the Fallen may hold the answers, but to surrender them, it wants the Irin race to finally face their enemies. Both those coming from the outside, and those raging within.

My Review:

"She walked as she always walked in these dreams.  Slowly.  With no thought of where she was going.  She only knew that within this forest, a dark angel walked on her right and her mate walked on her left."   (Opening scene, Prologue of The Secret)

From the opening lines to the very last page, I was bound by the magic of Elizabeth Hunter's The Secret.  The apprehension I was feeling over knowing this book would wrap up Ava & Malachi's storyline vanished, as their story unfolded in an achingly beautiful way that only Hunter can deliver.  She truly has a magical gift of rendering a story that will touch your spirit & soul, leaving you satisfied and yet longing for more.

The Secret finds Ava & Malachi reunited, searching for her roots - the truth of her bloodline & magic, and the key to recovering more of Malachi's memories.  With Ava's father, Jasper, refusing to give them answers, they begin a search for Ava's grandmother, amid warnings of a dark secret, so unthinkable, so impossible that learning the truth may be more than Ava can bear.   She often walks with Jaron in her dreams, awakening confused and struggling with what is reality or only dreams.  What does Jaron want?  Is he protecting her? Does he have a hidden agenda? Rumblings of a pending battle escalates the suspense, as the ancient power struggle between the Fallen, Forgiven, and Gregori materializes as a destiny they cannot avoid - is it also one they cannot survive?  The final struggle for power is nigh as forces secretly invade the city.  Secrets are revealed that will change everything as the Irin are forced to face their enemies and reevaluate past beliefs about the Fallen and their children.  Who is an ally & who is foe?  

It's very difficult to discuss The Secret without giving away...well, secrets!  Suffice to say this story is hauntingly beautiful, delivered in a lyrical manner typical of Hunter.  At times, the verse is like an addictive melody stealing into your mind, drugging you with its refrain.  The characters are bold - alive with color...truly a visual experience.  Ava is a worthy heroine, capable of standing on her own but graceful in her need of her mate.  Malachi is a warrior without the arrogance - always, always protective of his mate, yet accepting of her differences & power.  Together, they are so much more as they join forces with a diverse supporting cast to face the ultimate challenge.  

The Secret is a magical love story, a story of offering & assending redemption through grace, a story of embracing one's fate & destiny.  Hunter is a master weaver, picking up threads from the previous books, mixing in new vivid lines of love, hope, angst, betrayal, & destiny and weaving them all together into a beautiful, intense, powerful explosion that climaxes on the pages in a fireball of revelations.  It is a magical & mythical, breathtaking spiritual-like experience.  A perfect ending to a perfect series.  A Page Burner!  I loved every single word. It will reside on my Favorites 2015 Shelf!

My Rating:  5 Hauntingly Beautiful ♥'s...And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart...xxx

Sandra

Quotes:

He wasn't whole.  He wasn't the man that she'd once loved.  He was different.  Damaged.
"Do you love me?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Then I'm whole."
A wound doesn't heal just because it stops bleeding.  They were both still wounded, but her love had stopped the bleeding.  Malachi knew everything else would come in time.
♥          ♥          ♥          ♥          ♥

"Why do you visit me like this?" she asked him.
"Because I want to."
"There is another reason."
"If I am here, then the other cannot be."
♥          ♥          ♥          ♥          ♥

Some mornings Ava woke feeling as if she could drift away.  She was smoke on those mornings.  The thick fog that hung over the ocean in the moonlight.
♥          ♥          ♥          ♥           ♥

Malachi opened his eyes and Volund was there, gold eyes wide with madness.
"She is mine!" the angel screamed.
♥           ♥          ♥          ♥           ♥

"I think I'd pull down heaven if that's what it took to keep you here with me."
"And I'd abandon it if you weren't there."
♥          ♥          ♥          ♥           ♥

"We were meant to be like this.  Two halves of the same soul.  Dark and light together."
Their union was a reflection of the peace he'd seen.  Holy and wholly.

Can Evil Ever Truly Be Eradicated? Or is it immortal? In The Woods BTB Tour - Author Q&A, Review, Excerpt, Giveaway

This was the kind of fear that stirred in the darkest night, when awakening from a disturbing dream to wonder if what lurked within its shadows could be real. (quote from In The Woods)

• Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
• Release Date: January 17, 2015
• Length: 201 Pages
• Published by: Katharsys Pictures Publishing
• Buy Links: Amazon
• My Rating:  4.5 Heart-Stopping Hearts
• My Reaction:  Anytime a book can make me question reality, fear dark shadows, & afraid to turn the lights off, it is horror done right.

Based upon the original horror screenplay IN THE WOODS by Lynn Drzick, now an independent motion picture.

Hundreds of years ago their battle began . . .

In an age of knights and sorcery, a good king must raise a monster to protect his people from the demon unleashed by a dark-hearted enemy determined to claim his kingdom. But once called forth upon blood-drenched fields, can such evil ever be truly laid to rest?
To a present day community held hostage by fear, a serial killer will soon be the least of its worries after two off-duty firefighters enter a forest and find a grave. What they dig up isn’t a victim or family pet. When they race from the woods, they bring a timeless hell with them . . 
                                          ♦        ♦        ♦        ♦        ♦        ♦        ♦

Before we get to my review of In The Woods, I'd like to thank Nancy for stopping by to answer some questions.  Only a couple - I promise!

Was it easier or more challenging to write a book based on a screenplay, to start with someone else's vision of a story and turn it into a book with the Nancy Gideon signature?

Not easier or more challenging – just different!  It was definitely an adjustment using someone else’s interpretation of a story when I might have gone in a different direction (sometimes something as simple as the difference between a male and a female’s POV), but what a fun and unique opportunity for this movieaholic!  Since I write my first drafts basically as a glorified screenplay, building from that framework came naturally.  I had the dialogue and scene action but I got to create everything else from scratch: character backstory and motivations, the descriptions, development of secondary storylines and characters to breathe literary life into the outline the way the camera, special effects, and sound techs would the film. And the bonus was I didn’t have to work on a shoestring budget.  The only limit was my imagination. 

Lynn Drzick, the screenwriter and director of IN THE WOODS was a dream to work with, full of ideas and enthusiasm, and thrilled to see his vision fleshed out in book format the way he’d imagined it for the big screen.  We recently got together with DJ Perry, the leading man, to do a voice over commentary for the new Blu-ray and Video on Demand release of the IN THE WOODS film! 15 years later and it was like no time had passed at all.  And while we were enjoying Lynn’s homemade scones, we couldn’t resist beginning to plot ITW II!

It’s obvious you're a fan of horror movies & books.  Is horror a genre you are interested in exploring as a writer?  Is there a horror book or maybe a series in your writing future?  

I read horror long before I read romance. If I could do Dean Koontz-type justice to a horror series, I’d be all over it!  I love to plot and I like a dark, twisty tale to sink my teeth into.  You never know. It’s all just a matter of focus.

What can fans expect to see next from Nancy Gideon?

 I wouldn’t be able to face you if I wasn’t working on the next book in the “By Moonlight” series! UNLEASHED BY SHADOWS should be finished by late summer.  The first three books in my “Midnight” vampire romance series (looong out of print) are being re-released by ImaJinn Books. All nine books are being updated with new covers and will come out one per month beginning in July! After that, maybe it’ll be time to explore that darker side.

Staying with the book/movie theme, what throws a scare into you?  Gives you the heebie-jeebies?

• Horror books/authors:  in a good way-Dean Koontz and Stephen King, in a creeped out way-Clive Barker.  The Stand and Lightning are two of my favorite books.

• Horror movies: in a good way-Cabin in the Woods, Odd Thomas, The Crazies, the Woman in Black, in a Oh Hell No way – Mirrors, Hostel and Final Destination.  Heart-jumping yes. Hurlingly graphic, no!

• Horror characters:  The monsters from Creature Feature. I just loved their tragic tales.  If you haven’t watched The Strain, American Horror Story or Penny Dreadful, you don’t know what you’re missing.

In The Woods Review:

If asked, I’d say I’m not a fan of horror, not a fan of getting scared out of my skin...yet I’m a fan of King, Hitchcock, & Poe.  I’ve gone to bed more than once hesitant to turn the lights off after a late night of reading or a horror movie marathon.  I think what that says is that I’m a fan of good writing in any genre, including horror done right.  After learning that Nancy Gideon had a horror book, I knew I had to read it.  I snuggled into my comfy spot on the sofa, cracked open the cover of In The Woods, and a couple of hours or so later, I read the last page and closed the book.  Glancing around, I noticed the dark shadows now lurking menacingly around the corners of the room.  Night noises taunted me, daring me to make a mad dash for the safety of my bedroom.  I reached up to turn out the lights…no, not yet...maybe I should leave the lights on…just in case I have to get up during the night…don’t want to trip over something…yes, best to leave the lights on…at least for a little while.  And there you have it – horror done right.   Anytime a book can make me question reality, fear shadows, and afraid to turn off the lights, it is horror done right.

In The Woods opens in medieval times with Prince Freeacas leading the charge to save his lands and heritage from an evil force so deadly, so horrifying, that even the bravest of knights turn tail and run.  King Haggert travels to Sethrye, making a deal with a sorcerer for dark magic to save his people and loved ones.  He doesn't realize that dark magic comes at a high price -  one more precious than silver or gold.  The evil beast is eradicated, its body journeying with men traveling to the New World, bearing instructions to bury the beast in the middle of a forest, and so they do.  The grave lies within a circle of barren ground, guarded only by a cross, as centuries come and go.  But is true evil immortal?  Is it dead and buried forever…or just lying in wait?

Fast forward many years to a small town community, living in fear.  People are disappearing without a trace.  Could one of the town’s people be a serial killer?  Two friends entered the woods on a day hike, a day away to unwind.  They came upon a grave lying in a circle of barren ground, guarded by a cross.  Could this be where the serial killer is burying victims?  If so, the families deserve closure…the chance to give their loved ones a proper burial.  The men tossed aside the cross and began digging.  One of them removed an old bag wrapped in ancient leather thongs from the grave, ripped it open, and an evil transcending centuries sent them racing from the woods.

"Behind them in the woods, in the strange clearing that had been unvisited for centuries, where dirt spilled back from a gaping rave, a thick mist rose.  From out of that blanket of fog, something shifted and began to move.  Something that had no business stirring in this modern century.  The dark form gathered and grew, taking a monstrous, unholy shape that lingered only an instant to taste the air, to stare in the direction the firemen had taken, before disappearing into the trees."  (from In The Woods)

An evil force descends upon the town.  Bloody body parts begin appearing in one of the men’s backyards, almost like a gift, an offering.  Are they pointing an accusatory finger at this firefighter. Are the bloody offerings from the bodies of victims of the serial killer?  Could this firefighter be the serial killer?  Something is horribly amiss here.  No one is safe.  A reign of terror has begun.

In The Woods should be experienced firsthand.  It’s hard to talk about the storyline without giving away spoilers, so I’ll just say it has all the elements of horror done right.  But it’s the author's expert use of what I call the human element and a soft kiss of romance that upped the stakes and took it to the next level – making me really care about these characters.  The couple struggling to save their marriage, the firefighter trying to drown his guilt in alcohol, the young, innocent girl lured from her first car on a dark road at night – all people I fear for and all in danger from the unknown evil descending upon the community.   And there it is - horror done right.  Nancy Gideon’s In The Woods will have you looking over your shoulder, peering into shadows, and sleeping with the lights on.  Fans of horror, thrillers, and suspense will love this book.  It is a Must Read!  Crack open the book and…don’t forget to leave the lights on!

My Rating:  4.5 Carve Your ♥ Out Hearts!! 

With over 60 sales since her first publication in 1987, which was written in long hand then typed up on a manual Smith Corolla, Portage, Michigan author Nancy Gideon’s writing encompasses romance genres from historicals and regencies to contemporary suspense and the paranormal.

Under her own name, she’s a bestseller in contemporary romantic suspense, has written an award-winning vampire romance series, and has a six book shape-shifter series with Pocket Books. Also listed on the International Movie Database (IMDB), she collaborated on Indie horror films In the Woodsand Savage with screenwriting and ADR script credits, and even played a small role, that of “bar extra.”

Writing historical romance as Dana Ransom, she’s a “Career Achievement for Historical Adventure” and “K.I.S.S.” award winner with books published in Romanian, Italian, Russian, Danish, Dutch, Portuguese, French, German, Icelandic and Chinese.

As Rosalyn West, she’s a HOLT Medallion winner with nominations for “Best North American Historical Romance” and “Best Historical Book in a Series.”

A prolific writer, Nancy attributes her creative output, which once peaked at seven novels in one year, to her love of history and a gift for storytelling.  She also credits the discipline learned through a background in journalism and OCD.  The due date for her third book and her second son were on the same day . . . and both were early!  When on deadline, she turns on the laptop between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. to get a chapter in before heading in to her full time job as a legal assistant. She’s a member of GDRWA, MMRWA, FF&P and dotes on her critique group.

• Nancy’s Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon |

Be sure to visit these other blog stops:  In The Woods BTB Tour Stops
Enter our giveaway below for a $5 Amazon gift certificate & a Kindle copy of In The Woods!
As always, thanks for stopping by! Sandra
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IWSG: Beating Deadlines - Before They Beat You!

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers whose purpose is to share with and encourage other writers. Writers can express doubts and concerns and offer & receive encouragement and guidance.  IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month.  Be sure to check out other IWSG writers/bloggers here:  IWSG Members


Beating Deadlines...Before they beat you!

deadline - n. the time by which something must be done.

How hard can it be?  You have a deadline, you write, you meet said deadline.  So why do I repeatedly struggle with meeting deadlines?!  I'm an organized person - some might say excessively so.  I have my notes, lists, & a big red X marking important dates on my calendar.  I budget my time, strive to keep a schedule, and yet time and time again, I find my back up against the wall facing a deadline with an unfinished project.  Does this ever happen to you?  How do you manage your deadlines?

I know the short answer to managing deadlines is to put my behind in the chair and write - get it done.  While that sounds easy, it's not always realistic.  As they say, stuff happens! I often find myself falling behind schedule and then stressing over a looming deadline, having to pull an all-nighter...or two.  I'm sure you've all been there, done that, at least once or twice.

Being the List Girl I am, I've worked  on a few strategies to help me meet my deadlines and goals.  This is a work-in-progress list...trial & error, seeing what works for me and what doesn't.

• Set my own deadline a week ahead (yes, I'm dreaming big) of the real deadline.
• Plan a writing schedule complete with number of words or chapters needed per day or week to meet my goal & mark it on my calendar
• Set a writing schedule taking my end goal into consideration
• Track my writing progress - put it in writing
• Remove distractions during scheduled writing time
• Write

It remains to be seen if this will help me meet deadlines consistently and with less last minute stress.  I am writing this article 4 days ahead of the posting deadline.  That's improvement.

What strategies do you use to avoid facing the stressful reality of a looming deadline with an unfinished project?  Any tips for those of us struggling with bringing projects in on time? 

I do realize that one thing needed to make dreams a reality is discipline.  The discipline to set a schedule & stick to it, the discipline to set your behind in the chair & write it, the discipline to sometimes say No, I can't today...I'm writing.  Self-Discipline is a powerful tool for beating deadlines before they beat you!

Happy Writing!

Undersold Book Review

Title:  Undersold
Series:  City's Secrets #1
Author:  B.B. Hamel
Genre:  New Adult

My Rating:  3 ♥♥♥'s

*Thanks to B.B. Hamel for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*




Synopsis:

It wasn’t the kind of aching need that could be forgotten or ignored, or even missed. It was a burning, powerful thing, and like all powerful things, it was mindless and blameless. It came from somewhere else and took me directly to Shane and his body. There was nothing left but to submit to its whims. I wanted to be a part of him, not of his life, but of his existence.

Amy Woodall has it bad. Her father is dying of cancer, her job barely pays the bills, and she can’t get through the day without thinking about her crushing student loans. As an escape, each night she throws herself into developing a smartphone app in the hopes of kick starting her stalled-out life.

Things change when she begins an innocent text flirtation with a man she meets online. Shane Green is beautiful, passionate, and rich in a way Amy can barely comprehend. He’s also obsessed with his privacy, and he’ll do anything to protect the people he loves from the spotlight. When Shane’s company buys Amy’s fledgling business, she finds herself torn between family, career, and love, with no easy way out.

The rules have changed, and Amy must find a way to navigate them before she loses everything. 

My Review:

B.B. Hamel's debut novel opens in the middle of a sexting session between Amy Woodall and Rex Blue in an online dating site called Matchstick.  They boldly confess to some very sexy, suggestive acts that they would indulge in IF they were together, but that will never happen, so no problem, right?  Now imagine Amy's shock when she learns the man she has been confessing all her secret desires to is actually Shane Green - a reclusive billionaire entrepreneur in the Tech Industry and her new boss.  And he's just as surprised to see that Amy is the sexy siren he has fantasized about ever since they sent suggestive pictures to each other via texts.  A relationship begins - both personal and professional.  Both characters are carrying some emotional baggage that causes misunderstandings and an on again, off again relationship. Shane insists on a private relationship that no one knows about and that plays on Amy's insecurities. Much of the story occurs in the office setting and thus, office politics and gossip also play into the story.

As this story unfolds, we only get Amy's point of view as it's written in first person.  I believe it would have benefited from alternating pov's, allowing us to see what Shane was thinking.  Shane is an extremely private person to the point of being paranoid about any public press.  He insists they can only have a relationship if Amy keeps it a secret...from everyone. He has three rules that she must agree to: 

1)You can tell nobody, not another living soul, that we are together.

2)You cannot see another man while you are with me.

3)You will come...(yeah, okay...I'll leave it up to you to read this rule.)

Amy, a computer nerd working in a coffeeshop during the day and programming computer apps at night, is very insecure and constantly apologizing to Shane over every little thing - even when she isn't at fault. She feels like he is hiding something from her but never really takes a stand.  I kept expecting her to really stand up to him and demand more.  She is too shy & demure.  I  think both characters would have benefited from a little more development, as I never fully connected to them.  I wanted to feel more in-depth emotion from both of them.  I also wanted that one big conflict...an event that would push them over the edge and make me doubt the outcome.  Any issues that develop, are too easily resolved.  

Having said that, I enjoyed Undersold and think it's a good start to a series by an author with a lot of potential.  It's a good, fast read with some sexy erotic love scenes. Fans of erotic New Adult should give this book a read!

My Rating:  3 Pretty ♥♥♥'s...And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart...xxx

Sandra

IWSG: Rejected or Redirected?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is a community of writers whose purpose is to share with and encourage other writers. Writers can express doubts and concerns and offer & receive encouragement and guidance.  IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month.  Be sure to check out other IWSG writers/bloggers here:  IWSG Members

IWSG:  Rejected or Redirected?

At one time or another in our life journey, we all experience rejection.  Rejection hurts.  As a child on the playground at school, a young adult seeking that elusive first job or date, a writer getting yet another rejection letter.  Rejection hurts. Why don't they like me?  Why didn't I get the job?  Why isn't my book good enough? Rejection hurts, and it often leads to self-doubt. 

In the past, I've been guilty of letting rejection eat away at my self-esteem and bring on periods of self-doubt. (yes, I may have wallowed in it a time or two!)  While it's normal to seek acceptance in all we do and to be hurt if we fail to receive it, it's only a tragedy if we let it derail us from our journey.  Rejected doesn't mean failure.  It doesn't mean you're less than someone else. It doesn't mean you're unlovable.  It doesn't mean your book doesn't have potential.  It only means that for that particular moment in time, you did not have what that peer, employer, or publisher was looking for.  Find the right person, situation, and/or path and redirect yourself.

Have you ever been rejected only to have something better come along - something you would have missed had you not been previously rejected?  Take rejections and redirect them into positives...into something better for you.  Received another rejection slip? Take another look at your book or article...can you make it better?  Tighten it up?  Edit it one more time? (gasp!) Have you submitted it to an agent/publisher who is the right fit for you & the material you write? Always keep your eyes open for possibilities. 

Remember that being rejected doesn't mean you should give up your dreams.  It means it's time for you to reassess your situation and decide your next course of action.  Turn being Rejected into being Redirected!  See what happens.  Being refused entry into one door may afford you the opportunity you need to grab the keys that will open doors you only dreamed of before. Rejection hurts but it may be the best thing that ever happens to you.

Curveball Book Review

Title:  Curveball #1
Series:  Curveball
Author:  Teresa Michaels
My Rating:  3.5 ♥♥♥'s 
Characters/romance=4 ♥'s
Suspense/plot development=3 ♥'s

*Thanks to Teresa for a free copy of Curveball to review.


Synopsis:

Breanne Sullivan’s world has been turned upside down. In the midst of an investigation surrounding her husband, Breanne returns to the corporate world she left years ago to raise her children. Now, a required business trip places her on Innovation Airways’ maiden flight sitting next to pitching sensation and self-proclaimed bachelor, Drew Scott.
Drew is charismatic, devastatingly handsome and has never encountered a woman he couldn’t have. That is, until he meets Breanne, whose attempts to deny the intense attraction they share only fuels Drew’s determination not to take no for an answer. But when the flight veers off-course and an unfathomable sequence of events forces them to rely on each other in a race for their lives, intentions quickly change. High-tech travel turns into a game of survival that invites temptation and threatens to push their desires over the edge. 
He’s a tempting distraction she has to resist. She’s an unexpected challenge he’s determined to have at least once. The question is, if she gives in will he be able to let her go?

My Review:

I enjoy discovering new authors, books, & characters to love.  If a book's synopsis is unique & interesting, I'm usually game to give it a try.  Curveball fits the criteria, tempting me to accept the book for a honest review in spite of my overfull reading calendar.  As I read, I found myself drawn into an intriguing story with a couple of main characters I soon found myself pulling for.  Breanne is a mother of 3 who has returned to the workforce after several years of staying at home, and Drew is a skirt chasing, hard drinking baseball player whose contract may or may not be renewed.  When they meet on the maiden voyage of a new, innovative airline, sparks fly.  However, things soon take an unexpected turn for the worse, & they find themselves stranded & in a race for their lives.  Michaels did a good job developing these characters and certainly made me care about them.  Breanne has an innocent air about her but turns out to be a strong heroine who can stand up for herself.  While Drew first came off as arrogant & a bit full of himself, I soon saw another side to the man, and I fell in love.  Their developing relationship sizzles even though both are in denial.  Great job with character development! 

While I found the concept of the story intriguing, I felt like the suspense/mystery plot was neglected somewhat in favor of the developing romance.  There are several unanswered questions at the end of the book...Who?  Why?  What are they after?  I won't discuss in detail because of spoilers but I wanted more of the suspense to be developed in this book.  While I'm sure it will be in the follow up, the lack of it in Curveball distracted from the overall purpose/pleasure of the book for me.  The ending is a cliffhanger, and while it did leave me wanting to read more, it also left me a little unsatisfied...questions raised early in the book are never really addressed in the story...I'm okay with everything not being resolved but not with it being almost totally overshadowed.

All in all, while there are a few issues, this is a good first book.  I look forward to more from this obviously talented author.  Great imagination & character development!

IWSG: What do you do with Time Feeders?

What is the Insecure Writers Support Group?

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Be sure to check out some of the other writers/bloggers at this link: Insecure Writer's Support Group

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope the new year brings you everything you've ever dreamed of in both your real life & writing career. Have you made a list of resolutions?

No long list of resolutions for me this year...but I am looking at setting mini-goals...looking at things I'd like to accomplish in 2015 and planning the steps that will take me there. My mini-goals include things like getting more organized, sticking to my writing schedule, blogging more often, and a big one for me - putting a halt to the Time Feeders!

In looking back at 2014, I've identified some ravenous Time Feeders that are gorging away, filling up on my time...more specifically - on my writing time.  I'm determined to slap the shackles on them this year & starve them out. What are Time Feeders? Anything that eats up your precious writing time!  For me, it's things like email (afterall, a girl needs to check it several times a day, right?), surfing the net (gotta do that research...Oh look - Another sale on shoes!), Twitter (getting the word out is important), Pinterest (what's life without pictures?), Goodreads (what? Oh yeah...gotta share your latest reads & promote your favorite author - plus yourself)...okay, you get the picture! These are all important things to do - they truly are...BUT they are also gigantic Time Feeders! How many days do you start out just doing a quick check of your email or Facebook account before settling down to work on your book or an article? How many of those days do you suddenly realize it's 2 or 3 hours later, and you're still checking email, FB, Twitter, or a combo of all the above?  I'm telling you it's those pesky Time Feeders!

I'm guilty of wasting way too much time with all the Time Feeders - also called Social Media accounts.  So, one of my main mini-goals in 2015 is to stop wasting time.  Period.  I'm setting daily time limits on myself for using my social media accounts.  I'm not saying it'll be easy to break old habits (it's an addiction) but it comes down to what's most important to me right now. I need more writing time. I spend a lot of time on social media. I need to devote more of that time to writing. So, Mini-Goal #1 for me: Starve the Time Feeders!  How about you?  Are you guilty of allowing social media to monopolize your time?

Again, Happy New Year everyone! I hope your 2015 is a happy, healthy, prosperous one. And I hope you can spend at least a little of it somewhere as beautiful as this beach.   And as with starfish, remember that sometimes it's the little things that count the most...one at a time.

Sandra

Cross My Heart...xxx