IWSG: Time Flies . . .

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

Time Flies . . .And Waits For No One!

Is it really September 1st?  Four months remaining in 2015?  Are you kidding me?!  It's absolutely spooky how fast time flies.  I remember celebrating the new year, lamenting the bitter cold of winter that lingered way too long, and basking in the warmth of spring when she finally appeared.  I remember spring  turning into the long, hot, humid days of summer way too soon.  And while it's still very hot here in the South, I know the first few cool days of Fall are just around the corner.  

Can I turn back the clock?

As sure as the sun rises every morning, time is marching on.  And it's definitely not waiting on me to finish my current book in progress.  It's a bit scary when I realize how fast time slips by.  A day, a week, a month . . .it's gone in a heartbeat.  I want to scream No . . .Slow down!  But Father Time isn't listening, doesn't care.

It's frustrating for me as I began the year with high hopes of being ready to publish my current work in progress in 2015. I feel like I should be finished and yet, I'm not.  I want to type The End but I'm not there yet.  I've tried to write consistently, and after spending way too much time stuck in the middle, I'm once again moving forward.  (Have you ever been stuck there?)  So, other than lost time trying to fight my way out of the mental middle roadblock, I'm content with having met several of my goals, including sticking with my writing schedule.  I simply need more time (there's that word again).

I've always heard time flies when you're having fun, and I know it does.  But it also flies while you have your back turned, while you're dealing with the many trials & tribulations of day to day living, while you're finding your way around all the roadblocks (whether real or imagined).  

Am I the only one who thinks 2015 is flying by?  Have you accomplished your writing goals this year?  One thing is certain - Time Flies!

The Queen Review

Title:  The Queen
Series:  The Original Sinners:  The White Years
Author:  Tiffany Reisz
Release Date:  Oct. 27, 2015

Rating:  5 Beautiful Erotic ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Raw, Erotic, Intimate . . .I'm left feeling a bit guilty, like I've been eavesdropping on a confession...as a matter of fact, I have.


*Many thanks to the publisher, Harlequin,  for providing me with an ARC of The Queen via Netgally.

Other books I've reviewed by this author:  The Siren and The Saint

Synopsis:

Once upon a time, Nora and Søren made a fateful deal—if he gave her everything, she would give him forever. 

The time has finally come to keep their promises. 

Out of money and out of options after her year-long exile, Eleanor Schreiber agrees to join forces with Kingsley Edge, the king of kink. After her first taste of power as a Dominant, Eleanor buries her old submissive self and transforms into Mistress Nora, the Red Queen. With the help of a mysterious young man with a job even more illicit than her own, Nora squares off against a cunning rival in her quest to become the most respected, the most feared Dominatrix in the Underground. 

While new lovers and the sweet taste of freedom intoxicate Nora, she is tempted time and time again by Søren, her only love and the one man who refuses to bow to her. But when Søren accepts a new church assignment in a dangerous country, she must make an agonizing choice—will the queen keep her throne and let her lover go, or trade in her crown for Søren's collar? 

With a shattering final confession, the last link in the chain is forged in The Original Sinners saga. It's the closing chapter in a story of salvation, sacrifice and the multitude of scars we collect in the name of ecstasy—and love.

My Review:

All Hail the Queen!  And that is you, Tiffany Reisz!  I bow to you as you've delivered yet another masterpiece - the absolute perfect ending to this series - how very fitting that it go out like this.  I started this book with trepidation, sad because the end was in sight, worried it might fall just a wee bit short of my sky high expectations . . .ridiculous, I know, as you've never failed to deliver anything but the creme de la creme.  The Queen is that and more, as it delivers a knock out punch straight to the heart.  It is raw, erotic, honest, and yet so very intimate. I was left feeling a little guilty - like I had been eavesdropping on someone's confession and in fact, I had.  Discussing the story without spoilers is nigh on impossible but I'll try to hit some highlights and give voice to the multitude of emotions that consumed me as I read. 

The Queen opens with a beautiful wedding in Scotland (imagine Soren & Kingsley in kilts!) Afterwards, Soren & Nora sit in the chapel, as they nervously await a life altering event that will occur in three short hours.  Nora wants nothing but honesty & love between them, so she asks Father Stearns/Soren to hear her confession.

"Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned," she began her confession.  "When we were apart there were two times I almost came back to you and didn't."
"Two?"  Soren looked at her, wide-eyed and stunned.  Usually she loved shocking him, it was such a feat.  Not today.  "Why didn't you?"
"Are you sure you want to know?"

 Thus begins the story of the transformation of Eleanor Schreiber into Mistress Nora, the Red Queen - the Queen of the Underground.  Nora retraces the time after returning from her year of seclusion away from Soren & Kingsley, including details of her battle to claim the throne of the Underground as her own and her determination to protect the secrets of those she loves.  Eleanor believes she is destined to become Mistress Nora, even though it means giving up her love, her heart, her priest - Soren.  She revels in the power of freedom, even as Soren mourns his loss of her and continuously tries to seduce her into coming back to him.

"Come back to me," he said against her lips.
"I can't."
"Come back to me," he said, against her neck.
"I won't."
"Come back to me," he said, lifting her skirt to her hips.
"I don't . . ."
"You can't say it, can you?"  He slipped his hands into her panties and ripped them off with one fierce tear.  "You can't say you don't want to come back to me because we both know you do."
"Not enough to do it."
"Not yet.  But you will."

Mistress Nora emerges as Kingsley trains her for her role as the intimidating Red Queen - a dominatrix that commands fear & a burning desire to please in men everywhere.  As her power grows, so does the relationship between Nora & Kingsley, in spite of the wedge it drives between Soren & Kingsley.  Their emotional turmoil - hurt, anger, hate, love - literally ignites the pages.  The pain of words spoken & unspoken weighs heavily on them both and yet, neither is willing to give in or give up.   And so this indomitable trio find themselves at an impasse . . . Soren, Nora, and Kingsley - three people bound together by a thread of love that may be stretched but never broken.  

After Nora's confession ends, Soren surprises her by offering his own confession - and that's when the depth of his pain, sorrow, & regret becomes very real, as we learn just how much he sacrificed for love and how far he went to reclaim it. 

"And I had never known such pain," Soren said, his face a blank mask.  "Even the day you left me could not compete with the agony of seeing you so happy as he moved into your house and into your life and into your heart.  Standing there watching you two together was pure masochism.  Yet I couldn't stop looking at you and him.  It was my penance.  I'd waited too long;  I'd lost my Little One.  St. John of the Cross spoke of the 'Dark Night of the Soul.'  Then, finally, that moment, I knew what he meant."

 There are so many things that make The Queen a special book but what I will remember and treasure most is the gift of finally seeing, hearing, & breathing in the real Soren, finally meeting him completely unmasked and vulnerable.  This book strips away his many complex layers and bares the heart & soul of the man.  The incredible depth of both his love and his pain is inescapable as he drops all shields and lays it all on the line for love.  We share the weight of his sacrifices and suffer the agony of his despair, believing he's lost everything forever.  My heart ached as I cried for Soren & Nora & Kingsley.

The Queen is a powerful story of love and the scars it leaves etched upon the heart & soul.  It's a story of sacrifice for the sake of love and survival, of forgiveness & salvation.  It's the story of three hearts beating as one - a King, a Queen, and a God.  I was absolutely, totally & completely consumed by this story, this series.  It's shocking, erotic, raw, real.  One of the most intimate books I've ever read.  A Page Burner!  A 2015 Favorite!  A Must Read!

5 Gorgeous ♥'s . . .And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . .xxx

Sandra

 Quotes:
Note:  All quotes may not appear in final edition of the book.

"You don't really think I'm a sociopath, do you?"
"You have a conscience.  But you know what they call a sociopath with a conscience?"
It sounded like the setup to a joke so Elle took the bait.  "No, what do they call a sociopath with a conscience?"
"They call her 'Mistress.'"
♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥

"He misses you, you know," the woman said as Nora started out of the office with her roadmap.
Nora froze, the words chilling her to the bone.
"He's better off without me," Nora told her.  "Whether he knows that or not, he is."
"God isn't better off without any of His children in His life and His church.  He wants them all home, even His prodigals.  Especially His prodigals."
Nora had given her a smile, a sad smile although she hadn't planned on being sad that day.
"I wasn't talking about God."
♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥

"I didn't leave you to hurt you," she whispered.
"But it did."
"I spent seven years on the receiving end of pain.  I'm ready to be on the giving end."
"Did you have to start with me?"
♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥         ♥

"She is my heart.  If anything happens to her because of you, I will castrate you.  I know how much you want children.  I will take that dream from you with my bare hands and a rusty knife.  You know what I'm capable of.  And you know I know how, because I have done it before . . ."
♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥

"I have given you my heart, my body and every secret about me you would ever want to know.  I have put my priesthood on the line for you, my work, my reputation, my happiness and quite often my own sanity.  What more do you want from me?"
♥        ♥         ♥         ♥        ♥         ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥       ♥

"God said 'Love is patient.  Love is kind.'  He never said 'Love is easy.'"
"Love is patient," Nora repeated.  "You think if I'm patient he'll eventually come around and love me for me instead of waiting for me to be someone I'm not?"
"I've been screwing up mightily for sixty-eight years.  God's still patiently waiting for me to get it right, and He hasn't given up on me yet."
"Fine.  I'll give him sixty-five more years to come to his senses.  Then I'm moving on with my life."
♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥

"Don't confuse love with romance, young lady.  Romance is beautiful, it's a gesture, it's a walk in a park with a pretty girl.  Love is ugly sometimes.  It's a crawl into a war zone to save a friend.  Romance whispers sweet nothings.  Love tells painful truths.  Romance gives an engagement ring.  Love takes a bullet."
♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥         ♥        ♥        ♥

"I can't come back to you, but I won't live without you, either.  One is purgatory.  The other would be hell."
♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥         ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥

"Am I a hypocrite?" Soren asked.
"You're human."
"You don't have to be insulting, Eleanor."

IWSG: Writer's Resources ~ How Wealthy Are 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

Writer's Resources~As Good As Gold . . .

As a writer, I am continuously seeking opportunities to learn from the best.  I've read & studied dozens of how-to books & magazine articles, taken classes, and reached out to other writers in an effort to take advantage of every opportunity to learn.  I participate in writing groups, enter writing contests, and continue to write and submit book & magazine articles, as I advance and perfect my craft. In other words, I've utilized many different Resources as a writer and have discovered a few gems along the way.

Resource - n. source of help; an expedient; the ability to cope with a situation; a means of diversion; (pl) wealth; assets; raw materials.

I love that definition . . .Resource - a source of help; wealth; assets - Doesn't that say it all?  Resources are invaluable to a writer - as good as gold.  There are literally thousands of great resources for both new and experienced writers.  I'll share a book or two from which I reaped a wealth of writing knowledge.

• Story Engineering - Mastering The 6 Core Competencies of Successful Writing by Larry Brooks - My copy of this book is highlighted, written in, & tagged with notes throughout.  It covers the core functions in engineering and designing your story and then takes it to the next level by teaching techniques to breathe life into it.  Rich with examples, Story Engineering portrays story structure in a concise, step by step method that I found to be interesting, helpful, & easy to implement.  I refer to it again & again.

• GMC - Goal, Motivation & Conflict - The Building Blocks of Good Fiction by Debra Dixon - I  recently discovered this book after reading an article by another author recommending it (Many thanks, Nancy).  Oh my goodness!  What a gem! Using movies as examples, Dixon gets down to the nuts & bolts of a great story - the 3 things every story must have: Goal, Motivation, Conflict.  GMC is simple, clear, & easy to understand with charts & examples for putting the information into practice.  The light came on for me while reading this book.  I consider myself a much richer writer for having discovered it.

• Stephen King On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft - I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened the cover of this book.  All I can say is I found a wealth of information delivered in an entertaining manner from one of the best in the business. King delivers a lifetime of experience with pages filled with tips, hints, & life lessons. It's humorous, it's serious, it's emotional.  I love this book & often find myself referring back to it.

This is by no means a complete list as I only mentioned three of my favorites.  My book shelves are filled with wonderful resources for writers.  There is a wealth of information available to writers  in books, magazines,  and online.  I'd be amiss if I didn't mention that one of the best resources is other writers.  Reach out to the writer community . . .I think you'll find them ready, willing, & able to assist you.  I know I have.

How about you?  Are you rich in writing resources?  Are there some real gems sitting on your desk that you're willing to share with us?  What do you consider your most valuable writing resource?

The King Book Review

Title:  The King
Series:  Black Dagger Brotherhood #12
Author:  J.R. Ward
My rating:  5 Gorgeous ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Intense, powerful, beautiful read!

Synopsis:

J.R. Ward's # 1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood continues as a royal bloodline is compromised by a grave threat to the throne.

Long live the King... 

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle—with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything—and everyone—at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response—or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over? 

My Review:

Another masterpiece by J.R. Ward...loved it! So much going on in The King but, as always, Ward weaves the storylines flawlessly. I loved the duo storyline of Wrath & Beth and his parents, Wrath & Anha. It opened my eyes to the things that are at the root of who Wrath is today. And speaking of Wrath - Wow...what a fierce, powerful & yet loving & protective male! Fell in love with him all over again. I won't give any spoilers but I will mention a few things I loved: 

♥Wrath & Beth's conflict & the way it plays out - very intense, very emotional, very painful & yet always full of love, dreams, & hope for the future of not only their family, but for the race. In additional to personal conflicts, the whole battle for the throne story line plays out in this one...enjoyed it immensely.

♥Assail & Sola - Intriguing storyline that is developing between these two. Sola surprised me with her will to survive, her strength & character. Loved some scenes in which her grandma bosses some very bad dudes around! Assail fights his attraction to Sola but can't deny his instinct to protect her. He is a force to behold when he doles out his version of justice.

♥Trez & Selena - Heart-touching to watch...their desires cannot be denied and yet how do you escape Fate?  And how do you accept it?

♥IAm - I'm getting to know this Shadow better and love what I'm learning. Intensely loyal to his brother. I hope he finds his "Real" soon.

♥Xcor & Layla - Really want to shake some sense into Layla. She reveals too much unintentionally. I'm not sure how I feel about this attraction going on between her & Xcor but I know it's trouble. I'm left with the feeling she should be focusing on her unborn child more & stop slipping out to meet him. It's hard to come to an understanding of Xcor when he can be so evil on one hand & yet vulnerable enough to buy new, regular clothes to impress Layla on the other. Mixed messages.

♥Lassiter - LOL! What can I say about "I'm a Hound Dog!"???? Love Lassiter!

♥The rest of the Brotherhood - Awesome, loyal, & fierce as always. Great scenes involving these guys.

Overall, I found The King to be everything I could ask for and more. Loved it! A Page Burner! A Must Read! Looking forward to more.

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

Cross My Heart . . .xxx

Happy Reading!
Sandra

IWSG: Calling DIBS!

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

Calling DIBS:

Dibs npl (sl) money, esp in small amounts; a claim; a right to something

I think most people are familiar with the slang term Dibs . . . as in "I'm calling dibs on the window seat"  thereby staking a claim to sit by the window on a trip.  In the book world, thousands of readers (including myself) lay claim to their favorite fictional book characters (esp. those sexy alpha males) by calling Dibs.  Readers are passionate & tenaciously loyal to their favorites and often verbally spar over them, as can be witnessed in many Goodreads groups.   I personally called Dibs on Max Savoie, Nancy Gideon's swoon-worthy hero of the By Moonlight series. He remains my #1 book hero to this day.

DIBS!

What does calling Dibs have to do with my writing?  My characters are personal to me.  I feel an ownership, a possessiveness for each of my characters.  I gave life to them - first in my mind & then on paper as they developed within my stories.  I assume this is the same with most writers.  A very specific female character has lived within me for a very long time.  For years, I've visualized her, heard her voice, saw her walk through very distinct settings in my mind, & at times, I'd swear I caught a whiff of her scent.  I've written scenes, fleshed out her story, and gotten to know her intimately.  I've researched her heritage, know her strengths & special skills, feel her desires.  I understand her anguish, the tears trailing down her face & what motivates her.  I'm now writing her story.  So what's the issue?

In recent months, I started reading a new-to-me series.  It didn't take me long to recognize my special female character as the heroine in the first book.  (What?  Somebody call 911!  I'm feeling ill.)  How could someone else write about a girl so unique, so special to me?  As it turns out, this author has an amazing series that features a heroine that could be my girl's twin - with the same heritage, same physical features, similar skills and many of the same sights, scents, & sounds as those I've dreamed and written about.  Things so eerily similar that I recognized her right away.  The settings are also close with both set in my area of the South.  The plot & other characters in her books are very different than mine - no similarities there.  But, I immediately found myself wanting to holler DIBS on my character.  She's my heart - the character that I've always known I would write one day.  Now I'm wondering if people will read my book and think I copied this author's character.  I know I haven't.  I don't think this author was even born yet when this girl first walked through my visions.  Has this happened to anyone else?  Have any of you ever had similar concerns about one of your characters?

I'll finish writing my character's story, of course.  I simply have no other choice.  But now, I'm struggling with second guessing myself, conscious of making sure that I don't take anything from the other author's character.  I guess one of the dangers for writers who also read a lot is the risk of meeting one of your own characters in someone else's book one day. Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever recognized one of your own special characters in someone else's book?  I think we should be able to call DIBS!  How about you?

One of my favorite Dibs to call is ice cream.  These are small so the calories don't count!

Another one is -  as Sheldon would say, That's my spot!  Dibs!

What things have you calling Dibs?

Ride Steady Book Review

Title:  Ride Steady
Series:  Chaos
Author:  Kristen Ashley
Release Date:  June 30, 2015
My Rating:  4.5 Sinfully Sexy ♥'s

First Thoughts:  Loved the sense of family in this one - the kind that's got your back no matter what.

Warning:  Prepare to fall in love with Joker - especially when you see him with a baby in his arms!


♥Many thanks to the publisher for providing me this ARC via Netgally.


Synopsis:

The ride of her life . . . 

Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy---until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa's pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . . 

In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he's the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa's acting, it's clear she's falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker's secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa---or ride away forever . . .

My Review:

Carrisa Teodoro - High School cheerleader, member of the in-crowd, dating the high school golden boy.  On track for a beautiful fairytale life, right?  So how did she end up a single mom with a baby on her hip standing by the side of the freeway, with an Ex that not only refuses to come help her, but threatens to get full custody if she doesn't get their baby dropped off on time??  What happened to her white picket fence & Happy Ever After?

Carson Steele - A boy on the outside looking in at everything he knows he'll never have - the cheerleader, the friends, the life, a father who gives a shit.  Carson is an abused child with a burning rage, eating him alive.  He's living for the day he turns 18 & graduates high school to claim his own life & get the hell out of Dodge.  But the clock's ticking and one night, time runs out...

Twelve years later, fate intervenes in Carissa & Carson's (now know as Joker) life.  As Joker stops to help a stranded Carissa, recognition flares in his eyes & heart but he says nothing. He knew he wasn't good enough for her in high school, just as he knows she deserves better than him now.  MC guys don't have white picket fences . . . Or do they?  Carissa takes a step back from the big, badass motorcyclist who stops to help her.  She doesn't recognize him as the boy from HS but can't deny the sizzling connection that flames within when his eyes drift over her.  Thus begins  the journey of Joker & Carissa . . .Two damaged people wary of trusting anyone with their heart, both determined to make it on their own . . . and yet, powerless to stop the intense, magnetic force between them.   

Ride Steady is a heart-touching story of two people from opposite sides of the track, each learning to face their ghosts and let go, each daring to reach out and accept one another just as they are.  It is poignant & heart-touching, a sinfully sexy love story that is beautiful to see develop.  There is such a sense of family in this one - both traditional & non-traditional.  I loved the way Ashley brought in characters (2 neighbors & 1 teacher) from Joker's childhood who had given him a safe haven, a place to recover from his father's wrath, and made them part of his life now.  I also enjoyed Ashley's use of characters from other series & their involvement in Ride Steady.  At times, it's like a multi-series family reunion.  It was awesome to see Hawk, Mitch, Knight, Lee,  & others working along side the Chaos guys to help keep everyone safe.  As always, loved Shy, Hop, Tack...especially Tack, as he reaches out to Joker, emboding what true friendship & love is all about...a shining example of what being a brother means, what being part of a real family means.

"Fuck, Tack, she was a cheerleader."
Tack again lost his hilarity and speared Joker with his eyes.
"Now, brother, if you don't think you're good enough, the life you lead is good enough, the family you can give her is good enough, then we got a much bigger probem."
"Don't read that shit into it, because you know it isn't there. You also get me. There are women built for the life. There are women who take it on. But she deserves a white picket fence, Tack.
"Then give her one. No law says a biker can't live behind a white picket fence."
*(excerpt from Ride Steady - between Joker & Tack)

Carissa is a strong, kickass heroine - no TSTL girl here . . .she may be down in the beginning of this one but she is definitely not out.  Once she recognizes what she wants, she goes after it (him) like a dog on a bone.  Joker tries to discourage her but let's face it, he never really had a chance - especially not after the Chaos women, Tyra, Tabby, & yes, Elvira, not only adopt Carissa as one of their own, but join her campaign & cheer her on.  There are some great, funny scenes involving this crew in Ride Steady.  Like Joker, Carissa learns the true meaning of love, friendship, & family.

The suspense ramps up as Carissa's Ex begins a campaign to gain full custody of their child, Travis.  At the same time, danger invades the Chaos territory as a message is sent to the Club, Joker specifically, via a dead prostitute informant.  The plot development intensifies but for me, Ride Steady is carried on the shoulders of the characters - the badass, sinfully sexy MC guys with hearts of gold & their women who are just as tenacious & willing to fight for their men & families.  This is a beautiful ride - an awesome read!  Smokin' Hot!  Well done, KA!  A Must Read!  Loved it!!

My Rating:  4.5 Sinfully Sexy ♥'s . . .And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . .xxx

Sandra

Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews

IWSG: Unwind & Rewind With Me Time . . .

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

Unwind & Rewind With Me Time:

Anyone following my writing journey knows I've worked diligently on a time management plan, setting priorities and establishing a regular writing routine.  I've been pleased with my progress until recently.  It's amazing how you can be sailing along, feeling really great about things, only to be blown out of the water by things beyond your control.  I'm experiencing that now as recent family illnesses have wreaked havoc with my writing & time management plan, demanding most of my time & energy.  I've bemoaned the fact, beaten myself up over it, & almost given up a time or two - and then, did what I needed to do.  Fortunately, this isn't my first turn at bat - I realize that life often throws curveballs . . . You can stand there & watch it go by or swing for the fence . . . either quit or find a way to make things work.  

Thankfully, my mama didn't raise a quitter.  You'll find me swinging for the fence. So once again, I have to revisit, review & revise my plan, including time needed to care for & fulfill additional family obligations, along with my normal daily work schedule, while still finding blocks of uninterrupted time in which to write.  Stress and worry over the health of loved ones add pressure, as does misguided guilt each time I miss my scheduled writing time. Combined, they drain my creative energy, as I find it difficult to clear my head and quickly revert to my book world within little stolen slots of time.  So the question is: How do I utilize less free time in the best, most productive way possible to accomplish my writing goals?

After giving it some thought, I have come to the conclusion that the answer lies in finding some unwind & rewind me time . . . a few stolen minutes here & there to clear my head - a quiet walk enjoying Mother Nature, a few minutes snuggled in the porch swing with my beverage of choice, an occasional soothing soak in the tub instead of a quick shower at night - in other words, my first priority needs to be taking time to renew & rejuvenate my mind, body & soul - pamper myself with a little TLC.  On one hand, it seems like one more thing to add to an already overcrowded schedule, but on the other hand, mental & physical therapy is imperative to nourish a happy, positive person.   If I enjoy a few Me Minutes  each day to unwind & rewind, then I know I'll be more productive & creative when I sit down to write, in whatever time frame I'm able to schedule.  

It's important to me to continue writing every day.  As Mama said, "Where there's a will, there's a way."  I've discovered it's really no big deal to rise a little earlier to either write or grab a few quiet minutes with my coffee, while the world is still sleeping & dawn is just beginning to blush.  The silent solitude of early morn balances my mind and gifts me with a peacefulness that carries me through my busy days as both caregiver & writer.  A little Me Time goes a long way.  

Are you taking time to unwind & rewind your body, mind, & soul?  How do you manage to steal moments for yourself in spite of the insanity of your busy day?  What's your favorite way to unwind?