Hi there! Remember me?
I hope so. It's been a while.
I'm Kim. I'm a writer and a terrible blogger.
It's been too long since my last post, and so here I am. I've come out of lurkdom to share some good news!
I've sold the first book of my historical-fantasy romance, Stolen Promise, to Musa Publishing. I don't have all the details yet, as the contracts were only finalized a week or so ago, but when I do, you know I'll share. :D
It's so nice to remove the "On submission" and change it to "Sold!"
I'm very excited about this book, and the series as a whole. Right now, I'm finished with book two and starting on book three (as soon as I finish up the other two projects on my desk.) The series centers on the royal family of the country of Mordainia and the first two books were a lot of fun to write. These books are a change of pace for me, and give me a chance to explore areas and plots that I can't really do in straight-up historicals.
Stolen Promise began life as a NaNo project a few years ago. It was supposed to be a straight-up historical romance, but somewhere around the middle of November, it went off the tracks and crashed (or so I thought) so I decided to just let my imagination wander and see where it went. The end result was a story that I absolutely fell in love with (after a few revisions and beta reads - a million thanks to Marguerite Butler, who had the thankless task of being the first beta reader) and I just hope everyone else loves it as much as I do. :D
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Happy Earth Day!
Happy Earth Day!
Yes, I'm still alive.
Someday I may even blog again.
But for now, here's a picture I took on our cruise last summer...
Sunrise as we approached New Jersey.
And one I took in my backyard this winter...
And one of the Boy's foot. Because that's how he rolls...
Yes, I'm still alive.
Someday I may even blog again.
But for now, here's a picture I took on our cruise last summer...
Sunrise as we approached New Jersey.
And one I took in my backyard this winter...
And one of the Boy's foot. Because that's how he rolls...
Friday, April 05, 2013
Back in the Swing of Things
Well, sort of.
My family and I went on vacation two weeks ago, to visit my husband's family in Florida over Spring Break. It was a wonderful trip (despite the flight down being delayed and very turbulent and the return flight spending half an hour in a holding pattern over Virginia.) The weather was beautiful, if a little cold in the beginning. And by cold, I mean in the sixties kind of cold. The kind of cold that has Floridians running for heavy winter coats while those of us from the North wear short-sleeved tee shirts and say, "Ahhh... it's so warm here!"
We went to Naples, which is on the west coast, along the Gulf. My husband and I spent our honeymoon there, and this was the first time in almost sixteen years we were able to go back (the Girl has spent every Spring Break with her grandparents for a few years now, but this was the first year we thought the Boy could handle such a trip.) I'd forgotten just how beautiful Naples is - and after the long, seemingly endless winter we were having up here in NJ, it was a vacation in itself just to see the brilliant colors of all the blooming flowers and trees. Everything was just so pretty and so alive - a far cry from the yet-to-bloom trees and bushes up home.
The time leading up to the trip was hectic enough, since there were four of us but everything went smoothly. As I said, the flight down was pretty rough - with the drop-the-pit-of-your-stomach kind of turbulence (apparently there was some pretty severe weather through Georgia/Northern Florida and nowhere to go but through it. It reminded me very much of a roller coaster ride.) And considering this was the Boy's first flight, he handled it beautifully. He wasn't so crazy about the landing, but everything else was okay as far as he was concerned.
All in all, it was a relaxing vacation, with time spent on the beach, at the pool, at the Naples Zoo (I got licked by a giraffe while feeding it. Gross, but in a funny way.) We did some shopping, had tea at a wonderful little tea shop, and took the kids to the Children's Museum. We watched some gorgeous sunsets. Drank some terrific wine. And slept like babies every night. It was exactly what a vacation should be.
My family and I went on vacation two weeks ago, to visit my husband's family in Florida over Spring Break. It was a wonderful trip (despite the flight down being delayed and very turbulent and the return flight spending half an hour in a holding pattern over Virginia.) The weather was beautiful, if a little cold in the beginning. And by cold, I mean in the sixties kind of cold. The kind of cold that has Floridians running for heavy winter coats while those of us from the North wear short-sleeved tee shirts and say, "Ahhh... it's so warm here!"
We went to Naples, which is on the west coast, along the Gulf. My husband and I spent our honeymoon there, and this was the first time in almost sixteen years we were able to go back (the Girl has spent every Spring Break with her grandparents for a few years now, but this was the first year we thought the Boy could handle such a trip.) I'd forgotten just how beautiful Naples is - and after the long, seemingly endless winter we were having up here in NJ, it was a vacation in itself just to see the brilliant colors of all the blooming flowers and trees. Everything was just so pretty and so alive - a far cry from the yet-to-bloom trees and bushes up home.
The time leading up to the trip was hectic enough, since there were four of us but everything went smoothly. As I said, the flight down was pretty rough - with the drop-the-pit-of-your-stomach kind of turbulence (apparently there was some pretty severe weather through Georgia/Northern Florida and nowhere to go but through it. It reminded me very much of a roller coaster ride.) And considering this was the Boy's first flight, he handled it beautifully. He wasn't so crazy about the landing, but everything else was okay as far as he was concerned.
All in all, it was a relaxing vacation, with time spent on the beach, at the pool, at the Naples Zoo (I got licked by a giraffe while feeding it. Gross, but in a funny way.) We did some shopping, had tea at a wonderful little tea shop, and took the kids to the Children's Museum. We watched some gorgeous sunsets. Drank some terrific wine. And slept like babies every night. It was exactly what a vacation should be.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Three months...
have passed since the horrible events of December 14, 2012 at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.
I still think about those kids, every day. I remember their names and I've seen their faces and I've read about their painfully short lives. Noah Pozner still haunts me, still makes me hold my own son a little closer. Newtown made me a better mother. A more patient mother. A mother who is never too busy to take a few minutes out to watch something silly or listen to an age-old knock-knock joke that I've heard a thousand times and probably told myself when I was seven. A mother who swallows her exasperation when it's an hour past bedtime and my son is calling me yet again. Only this time, it's for one more hug, which is gladly given, with an extra squeeze thrown in. My son and I call it the enormous, tree-monkey hug. And there are never enough now.
For anyone who staunchly opposes any sort of gun control in the wake of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I urge you to read this blog - written by Noah Pozner's grandmother. See for yourself, by reading through her Noah posts, just what happens when a six year old is murdered, along with his nineteen classmates and six other adults. Read the links concerning what gunshot wounds can actually do to a little boy. Read about the grief and the shock and the anger and even the guilt. And then come back and tell me why assault weapons shouldn't be banned, why gun control laws are just fine the way they are, and why universal background checks aren't necessary.
Go on. I'll wait.
I still think about those kids, every day. I remember their names and I've seen their faces and I've read about their painfully short lives. Noah Pozner still haunts me, still makes me hold my own son a little closer. Newtown made me a better mother. A more patient mother. A mother who is never too busy to take a few minutes out to watch something silly or listen to an age-old knock-knock joke that I've heard a thousand times and probably told myself when I was seven. A mother who swallows her exasperation when it's an hour past bedtime and my son is calling me yet again. Only this time, it's for one more hug, which is gladly given, with an extra squeeze thrown in. My son and I call it the enormous, tree-monkey hug. And there are never enough now.
For anyone who staunchly opposes any sort of gun control in the wake of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I urge you to read this blog - written by Noah Pozner's grandmother. See for yourself, by reading through her Noah posts, just what happens when a six year old is murdered, along with his nineteen classmates and six other adults. Read the links concerning what gunshot wounds can actually do to a little boy. Read about the grief and the shock and the anger and even the guilt. And then come back and tell me why assault weapons shouldn't be banned, why gun control laws are just fine the way they are, and why universal background checks aren't necessary.
Go on. I'll wait.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Progress
The worst thing about going back to the gym after a long absence is how frickin' sore you get the next day. I went back last Friday, and egads, it was Monday before I could move without any pain. But now, here we are, ache-free (for the most part. I have bad knees, so they always hurt.) And I'm already down two pounds. Woo hoo!
I've belonged to my gym since 1998. A lot of the staff has changed over since then (not too long ago, I saw a former kickboxing instructor in the ER, where she's now a nurse,) and a lot of the clientele has as well. But it's always funny when I see someone I remember from way back when I first joined. I don't know them by name, or really to do much more then smile and say hello to, but I remember their faces.
It's a women only gym, which I love. Way back in the Stone Age, I belonged to a Bally's (it was Jack LaLanne when I first joined and then morphed) and I hated going there. It was always crowded and not one session would go by where some musclehead didn't try to hit on me. Ugh.) I far prefer not having any guys around while I'm sweating my ass off on the elliptical or stumbling my way through a mile run on the treadmill, thankyouverymuch. In my gym, no one bothers you and that's how I like it. I like putting on my iPod and tuning out the rest of the world for two hours. It's me time. Really-good-for-me me time.
I'm also making progress on Dance with the Devil, which is good because I'm sick of looking at it and I want to get it out the door. Spring Break is coming up soon and I want it finished before the kidlets are home for that week, because I know nothing will get done. :D
I've belonged to my gym since 1998. A lot of the staff has changed over since then (not too long ago, I saw a former kickboxing instructor in the ER, where she's now a nurse,) and a lot of the clientele has as well. But it's always funny when I see someone I remember from way back when I first joined. I don't know them by name, or really to do much more then smile and say hello to, but I remember their faces.
It's a women only gym, which I love. Way back in the Stone Age, I belonged to a Bally's (it was Jack LaLanne when I first joined and then morphed) and I hated going there. It was always crowded and not one session would go by where some musclehead didn't try to hit on me. Ugh.) I far prefer not having any guys around while I'm sweating my ass off on the elliptical or stumbling my way through a mile run on the treadmill, thankyouverymuch. In my gym, no one bothers you and that's how I like it. I like putting on my iPod and tuning out the rest of the world for two hours. It's me time. Really-good-for-me me time.
I'm also making progress on Dance with the Devil, which is good because I'm sick of looking at it and I want to get it out the door. Spring Break is coming up soon and I want it finished before the kidlets are home for that week, because I know nothing will get done. :D
Friday, March 08, 2013
Changes
Every so often. things just need to change. I'm not normally a big fan of changes because for me, most of the changes in my life have been really awful ones. A few have been wonderful, of course - like getting married, having my kids (for the most part. :D) But I'm not one who easily embraces change. Not usually, anyway.
So, we're going away in a few weeks and I was getting out some stuff to try on - clothes from last summer. We're going to visit family in Florida and while I understand it's been cold there (to them, that is. I laugh when I hear it's 50 degrees there and they're all bundled up like Eskimos,) it's still warmer than it is here. So I'm going to need the warm weather stuff I haven't worn since last summer.
Imagine my shock and horror when some things. Didn't. Fit.
I used to be such a gym rat. At one point, I was hitting the gym 7 days a week.
But that was then, this is now. Now, much as I do like to work out, I'm not nearly as diligent about it.
Which is why some things. Didn't. Fit.
**sigh**
So today is the day for change. I'm going back to the gym.
God help me.
I hope I'm not too sore tomorrow.
So, we're going away in a few weeks and I was getting out some stuff to try on - clothes from last summer. We're going to visit family in Florida and while I understand it's been cold there (to them, that is. I laugh when I hear it's 50 degrees there and they're all bundled up like Eskimos,) it's still warmer than it is here. So I'm going to need the warm weather stuff I haven't worn since last summer.
Imagine my shock and horror when some things. Didn't. Fit.
I used to be such a gym rat. At one point, I was hitting the gym 7 days a week.
But that was then, this is now. Now, much as I do like to work out, I'm not nearly as diligent about it.
Which is why some things. Didn't. Fit.
**sigh**
So today is the day for change. I'm going back to the gym.
God help me.
I hope I'm not too sore tomorrow.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Downton Abbey Finale
First of all, I'd love to thank TV Guide. Not only does the format of the magazine totally suck (I wish they'd go back to the smaller size) but they spoiled the season finale of Downton Abbey for me a few weeks ago by writing about how Dan Stevens, who plays Matthew Crawley, wouldn't be back for Season Four. No spoiler alert. No warning. Just the little blurb that he'd left the show.
So weeks before the finale, I knew he had one way to go and that would be death. He's the Earl of Grantham's heir. They had to kill him off. And so, they did. Granted, it was at the end of the finale, so it didn't cast a total pall over the show, but I knew it was coming and spent the entire time thinking, "He's going to die here. No, wait, it'll happen here. No, definitely now."
Ugh.
All in all, I thought the show was done well (although I did read on ET online that Julian Fellowes is going to be writing a series for NBC and as a result, may not do as much writing for Downton Abbey. So, we'll see what happens there) even with knowing Matthew's fate - which was even more poignant since he'd just met his baby son. :(
I'm curious to see what happens now. I love this show and think the writing is fairly good, even if house of Grantham goes through maids like Spinal Tap went through drummers. And I think I missed something because at one point, Anna mentioned something about having a surprise for Bates, but I never found out what said surprise was. And it's possible I missed it because my son was having one of those nights, and I ended up running up and down the stairs about twenty times. But it'll all work out in the end, since I will be ordering Season 3 any day now.
I'm going to miss Matthew, but I am so looking forward to the next season. I don't know if it'll be the last one, but I know I'll enjoy it. :D
Blog posts may be a little sporadic right now, as I'm knee-deep in a new project - another Sebastiano book. It's been a while since I've hung out with this family and I've missed them. I began it last week and I'm already nearing 30k words, so the story is moving right along. I've been getting in some amazing writing sessions and the story is progressing nicely.
So weeks before the finale, I knew he had one way to go and that would be death. He's the Earl of Grantham's heir. They had to kill him off. And so, they did. Granted, it was at the end of the finale, so it didn't cast a total pall over the show, but I knew it was coming and spent the entire time thinking, "He's going to die here. No, wait, it'll happen here. No, definitely now."
Ugh.
All in all, I thought the show was done well (although I did read on ET online that Julian Fellowes is going to be writing a series for NBC and as a result, may not do as much writing for Downton Abbey. So, we'll see what happens there) even with knowing Matthew's fate - which was even more poignant since he'd just met his baby son. :(
I'm curious to see what happens now. I love this show and think the writing is fairly good, even if house of Grantham goes through maids like Spinal Tap went through drummers. And I think I missed something because at one point, Anna mentioned something about having a surprise for Bates, but I never found out what said surprise was. And it's possible I missed it because my son was having one of those nights, and I ended up running up and down the stairs about twenty times. But it'll all work out in the end, since I will be ordering Season 3 any day now.
I'm going to miss Matthew, but I am so looking forward to the next season. I don't know if it'll be the last one, but I know I'll enjoy it. :D
Blog posts may be a little sporadic right now, as I'm knee-deep in a new project - another Sebastiano book. It's been a while since I've hung out with this family and I've missed them. I began it last week and I'm already nearing 30k words, so the story is moving right along. I've been getting in some amazing writing sessions and the story is progressing nicely.
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