Express Yourself: The Hobbit/LOTR

Express Yourself is the weekly meme where Dani @Entertaining Interests and I ask a question or discuss a topic for other bloggers to share and learn more about each other. 

Some topics and/or questions could be repeats, but we do that because things change with time. This way, it keeps things updated. Please join us HERE!

Dec. 15-19:  In celebration of The Hobbit:  The Battle of the Five Armies, highlight one of your favorite characters from The Hobbit/LOTR film franchise.

I've watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy a few times, but haven't had the chance to see any of the hobbit films, though, I plan to soon. 

My choice for fave character in LOTR would be, hands down, Aragorn. Of course, part of the reason is that I adore Viggo Mortensen, but also, I love the character development of Aragorn and what he stood for.

Do you have a favorite character in the The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings film franchise/books? 

Express Yourself: beverages

Express Yourself is the weekly meme where Dani @Entertaining Interests and I ask a question or discuss a topic for other bloggers to share and learn more about each other. 

Some topics and/or questions could be repeats, but we do that because things change with time. This way, it keeps things updated. 
Please join us HERE!




December 8 - 12: Coffee, tea, or soda ... what's your fave beverage?

I heart coffee with a splash of vanilla syrup added. I try to keep it to two cups, for the most part, then drink water the rest of the day. 

What's your beverage of choice?

Fast Five Friday - New weekly blog hop!

Fast Five Friday is a new weekly blog hop created by Cover Girls. Its purpose is to connect with writers, readers, viewers, and bloggers. With that aim in mind, we'd love for you to join us! 

We're suckers for lists, so we thought it'd be cool to do a weekly blog hop where we list things. We've provided the topics for each week below, with five being the focus. 

You're not required to post every week. You can pick and choose which topics you'd like to participate in. 

Whatever topics you decide to do, please include the link to your Fast Five Friday post in the comments section of our FFF post each week, so we can stop by and show our FFF love to you!

FAST FIVE FRIDAY TOPICS

Jan. 2:  Five Favorite Novels Read in 2014

Jan. 9:  Five 2014 Adored Book Covers

Jan. 16:  Five Most Anticipated 2015 Novels

Jan. 23:  Five TV Character Crushes 

Jan. 30:  Five Favorite Authors

Feb. 6:  Five Novels You Wish You Wrote

Feb. 13:  Five Romantic Movies You Love

Feb. 20:  Five Book Characters You’re Crushing On 

Feb. 27:  Five Top TV Shows

Mar. 6:  Five Book Characters You Relate To

Mar. 13:  Five Books You Recommend

Mar. 20:  Five Best Writing Songs

Mar. 27:  Five Movie Character Crushes

We post Fast Five Friday topics quarterly, and plan to have the new list for April - June ready to view in March.

We hope you'll join Fast Five Friday, starting January 2nd! 

IWSG - Dec 2014

Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh is a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds. To join, click on the name links above and post on your blog the first Wednesday of every month. Sign up and meet some awesome people!


I participated in NaNoWriMo last month, and even though I didn't make the 50k mark, I'm glad I tried because I was able to write 36K that I can continue working on.
One thing that NaNo helped me with is my inner editor that usually refuses to go away... with NaNo, I HAD to put the blasted I.E. to the side and just write. And you know what? I loved the carefree-ness of it. I want to do that more often, then do my editing after it's written. I don't know if that will work with future works or not, but I'd like to think that it would. 
This month, I will finish this WIP. And hope that I can edit in January, instead of during... we shall see.

Express Yourself - holiday movies

Express Yourself is the weekly meme where Dani @Entertaining Interests and I ask a question or discuss a topic for other bloggers to share and learn more about each other. 

Some topics and/or questions could be repeats, but we do that because things change with time. This way, it keeps things updated. 
Please join us HERE!

Dec 1-5: What holiday themed show/movie/book are you most looking forward to?

What holiday would be complete without A Christmas Story? It's a classic that my family and I watch over and over again during this season. 

My youngest and I both love How the Grinch Stole Christmas, so we'll be viewing that as well, a bazillion times over, too. :)

Express Yourself - MBTI

Express Yourself is the weekly meme where Dani @Entertaining Interests and I ask a question or discuss a topic for other bloggers to share and learn more about each other. 

Some topics and/or questions could be repeats, but we do that because things change with time. This way, it keeps things updated. 
Please join us HERE!

Nov. 10-14: Do you know your MBTI personality? If so, please share. If not, please go HERE to take the test.

My results:  ISFJ

shy, loyal, practical, sensitive, detailed, supportive

repress feelings, imaginative, humble, reluctant to change

overload themselves, reliable, unselfish, observant

Fictional characters I share traits with:

What's your MBTI? You can take the quiz HERE to find out.

Express Yourself - warning label

Express Yourself is the weekly meme where Dani @Entertaining Interests and I ask a question or discuss a topic for other bloggers to share and learn more about each other. 

Some topics and/or questions could be repeats, but we do that because things change with time. This way, it keeps things updated. 
Please join us HERE!


Nov. 3-7: If you came with a warning label, what would yours say about you?

This cracks me up! There are times after I say something, I think to myself, "Why in the world did I say that?" or "Did I just say that out loud?" or In my head, I'll think something is funny or creative, and I'll share my thoughts, but it will be in 'Jackie-lingo' (i.e. come out confusing) and the person will stare at me like I'm speaking Klingon. 

What would your warning label say about you?

IWSG ~ Nov 2014

Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh is a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds. 
His co-hosts today are LG Keltner, Donna Hole, Lisa Buie-Collard, and S.L. Hennessy.
To join, click on the name links above and post on your blog the first Wednesday of every month. Sign up and meet some awesome people!

So, I signed up for NaNoWrimo, and as I was writing last night, trying to get my daily word count in, I thought, "What in the heck was I thinking when I committed to this?"
It doesn't seem like 1600+ words a day for a month would be a lot, but it is when you're under a time crunch.
I occasionally stray to edit, but only a few times. Hey, it's a hard habit to break!
But I do like where my story is headed, and I love my characters, so those are bonuses, right?!

Any other bloggers doing NaNo this year? Care to do a word sprint?

~Have a great week and happy writing!

Kyra Lennon's Nobody Knows

Title: Nobody Knows (Razes Hell Book 1)

Author: Kyra Lennon

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Cover Design: Najila Qamber Design

Photographer: Lindee Robinson Photography

Synopsis:

It's not easy being friends with rising rock stars - especially when you're the glue that holds them together.

Razes Hell has taken off in the charts, and Ellie can't believe her childhood friends, Drew and Jason Brooks, are on TV and drawing crowds after years spent playing in dodgy bars. From obscurity to overnight success, Ellie soon realises life in the public eye isn’t all it’s cracked up to be as dark secrets become headline news and old conflicts are re-ignited. When a fake feud meant to boost the band’s popularity threatens to rip the boys apart for real, Ellie finds herself torn – a position which only gets more uncomfortable when her loyalty to Jason collides with her blossoming relationship with Drew.

Nobody knows how deep their issues run; nobody but Ellie. With friendship, a music career and a new love on the line, can Ellie keep their tangled pasts from ruining their futures?

PRE-ORDER LINKS: AMAZON | AMAZON UK

Author Bio:

Kyra is a self-confessed book-a-holic, and has been since she first learned to read. When she's not reading, you'll usually find her hanging out in coffee shops with her trusty laptop and/or her friends, or girling it up at the nearest shopping mall.

Kyra grew up on the South Coast of England and refuses to move away from the seaside which provides massive inspiration for her novels. Her debut novel, Game On (New Adult Contemporary Romance), was released in July 2012, and she scored her first Amazon Top 20 listing with her New Adult novella, If I Let You Go.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

Release Day Party on Kyra's Author FB Page

Spooktoberfest '14 Winner and Runner-Up's

Happy Halloween!!!

As always, the entries for Spooktoberfest were AMAZING! Dani and I had fun hosting. Thank you to all the participants for joining and letting us enjoy your awesome flash fiction pieces!
It was incredibly hard to choose, but after reading and rereading, you'll find my runner-up's and winner below.

My Runner-Up's...

To read, "I Am" by Lily at lilicasplace, click HERE

To read "12 past 2" by DRC at Writing Through Fiction, click HERE

And my pick for Spooktoberfest and the winner of an e-card is...

To read "Under the Glass" by Sarah at Sarah Marsh Writes, click HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To read Dani's choices for Winner and Runner-Up's... go HERE

Thanks again to all of the participants for entering and for sharing your amazing writing talents with us!!! We hope to see you next year for Spooktoberfest 2015!

Spooktoberfest '14 - Home

It's the 3rd annual Spooktoberfest hosted by Dani and I at Cover Girls. For details of this fun contest, you can go HERE for details.
Next year, I hope Dani and I will go with a 300 -500 word count... Getting my piece down to 300 words took forever! Of course, if I wouldn't have procrastinated in the first place, then it might not have been so difficult. :(
Anyway, thanks to all who participated in Spooktoberfest, and I look forward to reading your stories!

Home

     My morning routine consisted of switching off coffeemaker, checking locks on doors, and watching the garage door close. So, why is that door open now?

     I park my car and pocket my keys. Inside the garage, I pick up a baseball bat I used in college. Funny. My dad wanted his firstborn son to play major league ball, but my dreams were of the music variety.

     I turn the doorknob. It’s unlocked, and even though a chill crawls up my spine, I enter.

My furniture’s rearranged and seated on the sofa is my ex.

     “What are you doing here, Lisa?” I sigh and lean the bat against the chair, thankful it’s her and not an intruder.

     She stands. “I came to say goodbye.”

     “We already did that.” Or at least I did when I broke things off with her last week.

     “Oh, Drew.” She tugs on my shirt and kisses my cheek. “Let’s not fight.”

     I back away and fall on top of the coffee table that isn’t in its rightful spot.  

     Lisa kneels. “Are you okay?”

     “Yeah, but why’s my furniture—” I’m cut off by the prick of a needle against my skin. Cool liquid pumps through my veins. “What’d you do?”

     “It’s a cure for your virus,” she says. “If only you’d continued your meds.”

     I try to let out a string of curse words, because I’m not sick, and I’ve never taking medication, but my voice won’t cooperate. My vision blurs, and my eyes grow heavy until they close.

#

     Commotion stirs me awake. I’m on a cot, in a small room. Dr. Vex, Lisa’s psychiatrist, stands next to me with a smile.

     “What’s going on?” I writhe in the cocoon-like-blanket I’m wrapped in. “Where am I?”

     “Home,” the doctor says. “We’ve missed you.”

Thank you for reading, and thanks to the wonderful Spooktoberfest participants! 
You can check out other stories below.

Bucket List Blog Hop

At one time or another we have all experienced the loss of a loved one or know someone who has had to go through a life threatening illness. Sometimes that makes us reevaluate our lives and what we want to accomplish before we die. Some people make a bucket list to help them rethink about what is important to them.

This blog hop is being co-hosted by Sherry Ellis at Mama Diaries

 and Susanne Drazic at Putting Words Down on Paper.

• Attend Cherokee Festival/ceremonial dance
• Visit Ireland
• Visit New Zealand 
• Have my work published
• Ghost hunt/investigate - I'd like to find something similar to what the people on Ghost Hunters do, and then it'd be fun to take it an extra step ... a ghost investigating/amazing race type thing to do with my girl, Dani. 
• Take my hubby to a UFC event, front row
• Volunteer/start a project to help others and get my kiddos involved in the project, too.
• Learn a new language, maybe French or Italian
• Do another 5K, but run the entire way
• Front row at a Maroon 5 concert

What would be on your bucket list? Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to check out the other participants in the Bucket List Blog Hop!

Express Yourself - Halloween plans

Express Yourself is the weekly meme where Dani @Entertaining Interests and I ask a question or discuss a topic for other bloggers to share and learn more about each other. 

Some topics and/or questions could be repeats, but we do that because things change with time. This way, it keeps things updated. 

Please join us HERE!


Oct 13 - 17: Do you have any Halloween plans?

Most likely, the traditional things - take the kiddos trick or treating, have movie fest, eat tons of candy. 

Speaking of candy, I've been loving NutRageous lately. Oh my goodness - delicious! Basically, it's peanut butter, peanuts, and caramel covered in chocolate. And the bar itself isn't a typical size candy bar; it's smaller. But with all that yummyness going on, I think it's the perfect size. 

Zombie Apocalypse: Survival Kit & Crew Bloghop

Zombie Apocalypse: Survival Kit & Crew Bloghop

Hosts:  
Dani @Entertaining Interests
Mina @Some Dark Romantic
Jackie @Bouquet of Books

Details: Build your zombie apocalypse dream team and survival kit... pick ONE person and/or ONE item for each of the topics listed in the categories below.

(And since this bloghop is all about having fun, if you have kiddos and/or pets, we can assume they are safely tucked away in a safe haven somewhere while we’re out in the world fighting off zombies, so do not worry.) 

My zombie apocalypse dream team and survival kit

Crew:

1 The Walking Dead character -  Daryl Dixon. He's a hunter, can build a fire, and his crossbow is his best friend.

1 book character -  Dr. Nevelle from I am Legend, because he's a brilliant doctor and has excellent ideas on traps, shelter, weapons, and discovering a cure.

1 movie character -  Alice from Resident Evil, because killing zombies is kinda her thing.

1 TV character (other than TWD) -  Klaus Michaelson from The Originals - he's a hybrid... half vamp, half wolf, and he's immortal, so he would be an asset on my team.

1 loved one -  My hubby, for his zombie knowledge, ideas, and well, he's my heart.

1 friend -  Dani, my soultwin. We bounce ideas off each other and can come up with great plans. Also, she can stay calm in a crisis.

1 freebie -  Hulk/David Banner - if he gets bit, he won't become a zombie. He'll turn into the Hulk and take out a ton of other zombies, a.k.a. Hulk Smash. Also, when he's not the Hulk, he's a physicist, so I'm hoping he'll work with Dr. Nevelle to find a cure.

Backpack:

1 comfort item -  my fave blanket, It's the perfect size and lightweight.

1 weapon -  I want a lightsaber because that would be just badass, but if not that, then I'd go with a combat knife.

1 luxury item -  manual can opener

1 food item -  trail mix. It's easy to carry, lightweight, and I can ration it out for long periods of time. Plus, I love it!

1 medicine/first aid item -  antibiotics

1 hygiene item -  toothpaste

1 freebie -  duct tape for it's multipurpose benefits

Background:

Outpost -  An old two-story library a few blocks from the ocean.

Outbreak -  I'm not sure where it started, but it's worldwide...

Cause of it -  Some sort of new flu-bug strain

Cure (if applicable) -  I'm banking on the two smarties, Nevelle and Banner, to come up with a cure, and I think it'd be amazing to help, and  to learn from them!

1 item you NEED to find -  that straw thingie that purifies water

1 item you WANT to find -  coffee. Yep, I just wrote that.

Method of travel -  some type of military vehicle.